In this issue:
Chinese Cars, Made in Bulgaria
Do you need flood insurance?

Hello Readers!
Ragamala is a Bharatnatyam dance troupe based in Minnesota.
They will perform at the American Dance Festival in Durham in
July. Read a fascinating interview with Ragamala on pg. 8.
Chinese cars. Made in Bulgaria? It was bound to happen. Now
Chinese manufacturers are building cars in Bulgaria to keep the
prices down. Read the story on pg. 14.
Should you also learn and do yoga if you are learning Indian
dances? Go to pg. 30 to find out.
China is esablishing “Confucius Institutes” at colleges and
universities across America. Are they an educational blessing or
trojan horses? The story is on pg. 36.
Interest rates are their lowest in decades. Should you refinance
your home? There are many things to consider if you are
thinking about it. Go to pg. 68 for the details.
Do you need flood insurance? Read the article about it in our
monthly business matters column on pg. 70.
Festivals and holidays are listed on pg. 118.
Find your astrological predictions for the month of July in the
AstroScope on pg. 120.
Catch up on all the local and regional community
organizations and events on pg. 90 and get up to the minute
updates at our website: saathee.com.

A features magazine for the
South Asian Community of the Carolinas

Quote: “It is best to give advice in only two
circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a
life threatening situation.” - Anonymous

Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and
advertisers and not necessarily of the publisher or editor.
Please contact us prior to submitting articles or photographs.
Saathee is published monthly. Deadlines for advertisement,
submissions and events information is 20th of the previous
month.
Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information
for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising
tool for businesses.

Aparna’s sister Ashwini also dances with Ragamala.
Trained in Bharatanatayam, the Ramaswamys view this
ancient dance form as a platform. In collaboration with diverse
and well-known international artists (including violinist Dr. L.
Subramaniam, poet Robert Bly, and jazz musician Howard
Levy), they use Bharatanatayam to tell universal stories.
Some of the dances that Ragamala have created include Yathra
(Journey), which premiered at the Kennedy Center in
Washington, D.C. The dance is about the trajectory of human
life from birth to death. The score includes the sitar of
Shubhendra Rao and the pioneering use of Indian cello. Dhvee
(Duality) shares both Indonesian and Indian interpretation of
the Ramayana. Sthree is set to a score by Dr. L. Subramaniam and
is inspired by the Tamilian epic Silappathikaram (The Anklet).
Using a Greek chorus, it probes fundamental Hindu concepts
of karma and dharma in the context of the arts and literature of
South India’s Sangam Period.
Sacred Earth celebrates the connections implicit in our daily
lives that help us transcend the mundane and bridge to the
divine. Sangam poetry, describing how wedded humans are
with landscapes; the kolam “painted prayers” of Southeastern
India, ephemeral designs made from rice flour and put on the
front porch providing a daily link between the household and
the universe; and ancient wall paintings of the Western Indian
Warli people are all integrated into Sacred Earth. Accompanied
by South Indian musicians, the dance starts quietly and
contemplatively,
building
to
an
affirmation
of
interconnectedness.
I had the pleasure of talking with Ranee and Aparna
Ramaswamy in mid-June 2012. Here is an excerpt from the
interview.

By the time this issue of Saathee is published, the seventy-ninth
annual American Dance Festival (ADF) will be underway in
Durham. The oldest and largest festival dedicated to modern
dance in the country, it runs through July 28, 2012 and includes
46 performances by 18 companies, including seven world
premieres. My friend Jodee Nimerichter, who has been codirecting ADF from 2007-2011, was featured very favorably in
an article in the May 25th New York Times as she takes on sole
directorship.
As I mentioned last year, “If you think that you might see
ballet, well, you might. If you think that you might see
something much more modern and theatrical, you will. If you
think that you might see amazingly strong athletic
performances conveyed apparently effortlessly, with grace and
beauty, that you definitely will see.” There are international and
internationally acclaimed dance troupes, discussions with
artists, matinees especially for children, film, and more. There
is a concurrent ADF dance school which, this year, has 426
students from 18 countries and 42 US states.

Dilip: Thanks, Ranee and Aparna,
for taking time to speak with me.
Let’s start with the name of your
ensemble. Why “Ragamala”?
Ranee: A Painting in Motion was
our first production in 1992. This
work brought to life the Ragamala
paintings of the 16th and 17th
centuries. For our production, we
commissioned
large-scale
paintings without the figures that
were rear-projected onto the stage.
Aparna: Yes, we became the
figures and expressed the moods,
traits and iconography of each
character. We were inspired by the confluence of art forms in
these paintings and their ability to connect with people today.

South Asia, particularly India, certainly has strong dance
traditions. ADF had a small festival in India in 1990 and two
major Indian troupes recently performed at ADF.
I’m excited that this year Ragamala Dance, a Bharatanatyam
ensemble based in Minnesota, is presenting their Sacred Earth
at ADF. Approximately 80 minutes long and having toured
twenty-five cities to strong reviews, it will be performed on the
evenings of July 10, 11, and 12, with a post-performance
discussion on the first night.
Ragamala Dance, described by the New York Times as “an
excellent company”, was founded by Ranee Ramaswamy, who
shares artistic direction with her daughter Aparna. Aparna was
named in 2010 by Dance Magazine as one of “25 to Watch”, the
first time that a Bharatanatayam artist was so singled out.
Saathee.com

Dilip: Ranee, you have been settled in Minnesota for decades
continued on page 12
8

July 2012

In Business for 10 Years

Distributors of Best
Selling Prepaid Calling
Cards in the Carolinas!

100%

Guaranteed*

Attention Convenience Stores,
Grocery Stores & Gas Stations!

We shall
match or beat any
competitors prices*

Calling cards for every country in the world at Best Discounts
We carry all cards from all major providers.
Plus wireless cards from AT&T and Verizon.
We speak your language be it English, Hindi, Gujarati,
Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Spanish and Arabic.

Call for a Salesman or an Authorized distributor in your area.
*Conditions apply, ask for details.

Multi million dollar producer in 2010, 2011,
and going strong in 2012
Short sale specialist â&#x20AC;˘ Foreclosure expert
Experience, professionalism, eďŹ&#x192;ciency, and most importantly,
the ability to get any transaction on the table, and closed.
These are the qualities that make me the right agent for you.

Multi-million dollar ashram

Worldwide Travel Inc.
Call us for all your travel needs
within the u.s. or around the world

* Practice in North Carolina limited to immigration only (Office visit by appointment only)
Saathee.com

11

July 2012

Dilip: How have your dances been received in India?
Ranee: Very well. In 2010, we toured Sthree to eight cities in
Kerala with the Soorya Festival and got wonderful reviews. In
and, Aparna, you were raised in the United States. Could you 2011, we performed at NCPA Mumbai [India’s national center
please reflect on challenges, as well as advantages, of being in for performing arts] , which also drew a lot of attention. This
the diaspora while creating classically-based art?
fall, we will be performing in Madras, Madurai, and Bangalore.
Aparna: We are senior disciples of the great Bharatanatayam
dancer and choreographer Alarmel Valli. We met her when she Dilip: You have worked with very well-known poets and
came to Minnesota to perform and conduct intensive musicians, such as Carnatic violinist L. Subramaniam. What
workshops. We feel that the stars were truly aligned for this was your experience with Dr. Subramaniam like, in particular?
meeting and, since then, it has been our greatest fortune to be Ranee: We had never met him. One morning I decided to email
her students and learn the him and ask if he would consider creating a score for Sthree.
subtleties and aesthetics of Honestly, I had no idea what would happen. Two weeks later I
her dance. We are not sure if got a response that he was interested! We did everything via
we would have even had a the internet and the phone. It’s funny how an ancient epic was
chance to meet her or study brought to life through technology! He is a very busy man, in a
with her if we had been different city or country every other day, but he was always
living in India; we had to available on the phone and always pleasant. When our script
come to Minnesota to meet a was complete and the ragas were established, we sent this to
legend of the Indian arts! To him and he created the score. We only wanted to make a small
study with Alarmel Valli, we change to one section, and he graciously accommodated us.
traveled to Madras for four
months each year to Dilip: Let’s talk about your piece Sacred Earth that you will be
continue
our
intensive performing at ADF. I know that we could go on for hours about
training in India.
this rich piece, but, briefly, what inspired you to create this
Ranee: Yes, because of this work?
concentrated, but unique Aparna: Sacred Earth explores the interconnectedness between
way of spending time with one’s guru, the pressure to meet her human emotions and the environment that shapes them.
standards was great. As Bharatanatayam dancers living in the Inspired by the philosophies behind the ephemeral arts of
United States, we feel a great responsibility to maintain the kolam and Warli painting and the Tamil Sangam literature of
cultural, stylistic and aesthetic integrity of Bharatanatayam. India, Sacred Earth brings both internal and external landscapes
This pressure and responsibility, along with the opportunity to to life. Each morning, women in southeastern India perform the
experience the work of great artists from all cultures - in dance, silent ritual of kolam, making rice flour designs on the ground
theater, and music - inspires us every day.
as conscious offerings to Mother Earth. This daily ritual creates
a sacred space and becomes a link between the intimate home
Dilip: It must be very rewarding to have started a dance troupe
and the vastness of the outside world.
with family members.
The indigenous Warli people of western India revere the land,
Ranee: It is a gift to have two daughters who dance with me
and their dynamic wall paintings find the spiritual in the
and run the company with me!

American Dance Festival
continued from page 08

Dilip: What does modern dance mean to you and how does
Bharatanatyam fit into it?
Ranee: We appreciate and watch a great deal of modern dance.
We admire the physicality, the freedom of not having to explain
the meaning of each movement, and the comfort of costumes
that allow for unrestricted movement. While Bharatanatyam
does not share these exact qualities, it is just as creative an art
form that is proud of its ancient roots.
Dilip: On both sides of the coin, I’m wondering what modern
dance aficionados think about your dance, rooted in thousands
of years of history, as well as what classical Indian dance lovers
think about it.
Aparna: This is a great question. We don’t believe that the two
groups you mentioned yearn for something all that different.
In our opinion, all great art is built on a strong foundation,
whether it be a tradition, training, or inspiration. We see our
work as steeped in tradition, and able to communicate
contemporary thought and emotion. For us, Bharatanatyam is
not a static tradition that binds us to existing dances and ritual.
Instead, it is a beautiful language that we use to convey the
poetry of life. Therefore, we feel that both modern dance and
Indian dance connoisseurs appreciate and understand our
commitment to our roots while we look forward and create new
work.
Saathee.com

12

everyday. For the Tamil Sangam poets of South India (300 BCE300 CE), the Earth was sacred. Recognizing that human
activities are interwoven with all of creation, they drew
parallels between inner and outer landscape and used the
natural world as a metaphor to examine the intricacies of
human emotion.
As Sacred Earth builds from silent, meditative beginnings, the
performers create a sacred space to honor the divinity in the
natural world and the sustenance we derive from it. We
continued on page 78
July 2012

Chinese Cars

Made in Bulgaria
China’s first car plant in Europe just revved up.
Can it succeed in a recession?
By Jodi Hilton - GlobalPost.com
SOFIA, Bulgaria — There was an unusual display outside the
city’s National Palace of Culture recently: a brand-new silver
SUV, encased in a glass box and stamped with the words
“Made in Lovech” — Bulgaria.
The Great Wall Hover was one of the first cars to roll off the
assembly line at a new plant built by Great Wall Motors, one of
China’s major car manufacturers, in association with the
Bulgarian firm Litex. A celebration was held last month for the
opening of the assembly plant about 90 miles east of Sofia.
This is China’s first major foray into car manufacturing in
Europe. If Great Wall Motors succeeds, it will gain a muchcoveted foothold in the European market.
Chinese auto manufacturers have been trying for the last
several years to break into the European market. As the debt
crisis pushes the euro zone into recession, Chinese auto
manufacturers see an opportunity to market their relatively
inexpensive vehicles.
Other Chinese companies in the past have failed to meet
stringent European safety standards. Great Wall Motors is the first
Chinese auto manufacturer to have passed the European NCAP
safety test, according to Bill Russo, a China auto-industry expert
and former executive for Chrysler’s North East Asia division.
By assembling cars in the poorest EU countries, Great Wall
Motors can ensure a ready and cheap labor supply while
avoiding EU import taxes for its cars.
The new plant is located in an industrial zone outside the
tumbledown village of Bahovitsa, population 1,100, where
ordinary traffic consists of elderly pedestrians out to tend to
their chickens, children riding bicycles and locals driving
Soviet-era Lada automobiles.
“Probably a lot of people were doubting in such a place there
could be such a company, the only factory of its kind in Bulgaria,”
said Iliya Terziev, the executive director of Litex Motors.
This year, the plant will roll out only 2,000 cars. But Terziev
said that he hopes the plant will be able to produce 50,000 cars
annually when it’s running at full capacity in the next three or
four years.
Great Wall Motors in cooperation with Litex will assemble
three models in Bulgaria, beginning with a Voleex C-10, a small,
five-door hatchback that will sell for about $11,000. The
following year, Great Wall will also begin distributing two other
models: a pickup truck called Steed and the Hover SUV at
$20,000 — about $6,500 cheaper than popular SUVs like the
Japanese Subaru Forester.
Inside the spacious and airy plant, groups of young men
buzz around brightly colored vehicle shells, installing
windshields, seats, engines and axels to pre-made exteriors.
Great Wall has so far hired 120 workers, and expects to hire
Saathee.com

up to 2,000 more as production ramps up.
Atanas Novakov, 26, a recent graduate from Sofia Technical
University, was hired last year and has worked his way up to
team leader.
Brain-drain has plagued Bulgaria for the last decade, due to
the fact that there aren’t many good jobs in Bulgaria for college
graduates. “This is a great opportunity for guys like me, and
very special for Bulgaria,” he said.
Launching an overseas operation in the midst of the
European economic crisis is a risk.
In order to win, Great Wall will have to undercut competitors
on price, Russo said. The Voleex C-10 will be priced a few
thousand dollars less than the similarly styled Toyota Yaris.
Great Wall has also cleared another competitive hurdle for
Chinese car manufacturers. Because it can cost about a billion
dollars to design a car, many Chinese manufacturers started out
copying models from rival companies.
Early on, some of Great Wall’s models have looked very
similar to competitor’s vehicles, most notably in the 2006 case
of Great Wall’s Peri, which Fiat accused of being a copy of its
own Panda. An Italian court subsequently banned the Peri from
being imported to Italy.
Great Wall now exports only models of unique design, which
it has been doing successfully in many countries, notably Italy,
Australia and the Ukraine, with help from an Italian design
firm.
Meanwhile, in Bahovitsa, Kalin Krastev, the young, recently
elected mayor, said that residents have generally responded
positively to the plant. But they will be more receptive, Krastev
said, when more jobs become available.
That’s what’s been promised, he said, but “how soon, they
won’t say.”
Krastev has been driving a Great Wall truck — a loaner from
the company — but probably wouldn’t buy one just now, he
said, due to the high cost of gas and low wages, especially for
civil servants. “They are not that expensive, but we are in
Bulgaria.”

• Take advantage of high paying consulting opportunities in SAP.
• Our trainers are experienced and work with a variety of corporations and SAP Partners.
• We assist in resume' preparation & job placement.
• Effective knowledge transfer to better prepare you for SAP consulting opportunities.

Due to high demand and extremely limited seats per batch, classes have been getting filled very quickly,
especially SAP FI classes. Please register soon to reserve your admission for the course of your choice.

For further details, please contact us at Ph: 704 962 5159; email: support.btech@gmail.com

12627 Provincetowne Dr., Charlotte, NC 28277

www.ballantynetech.com

Carrying Fresh Food at the Lowest Prices!

Indian Spice Land
G
opeNiNraNd
G spec
ial

Now !
opeN

Best prices!
Best Variety!

10% of
f
M
ost ite
Ms*

Full Line of Indian Groceries:
All kinds of Dal, Fresh Vegetables, Fresh Halal Meat and
Chicken, Fresh and Frozen Indian Fish, Snacks and Sweets,
Fresh Kadipatha Plants, Variety of pickles, Cd's, DVDs and more
*Ends 8.15.12. Some restrictions may apply. See store for details.

704-536-3715
7200-J Albemarle Rd. Charlotte, NC 28227

Next to Woodlands Restaurant

Saathee.com

21

July 2012

Rawal admitted to the re-shuffle. But he told Bollywood
Hungama, “Initially I was to play the role. But there were date
issues, and I had to opt out. Now they’ve been sorted. So I am
in.”

Film Clips

Farah and SRK Team-Up Again
Farah Khan’s next film starring Shah Rukh Khan will
apparently have five leads. While Boman Irani has been
finalized for one of the roles, the other three actors are yet to
be decided. Farah Khan is keen on introducing a new face for
the film. Both she and SRK are excited about the movie as it
brings them back after delivering two Bollywood blockbusters
- Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om. The film will go on the
floors by the end of this year.

Bol Bachchan Set for July

The comedy blockbuster
Bol Bachchan, featuring
Ajay Devgn and Abhishek
Bachchan
with
an
appearance by Amitabh
Bachchan, is set to open
on Friday, July 6. The film
is produced by Devgn
and directed by Rohit
Shetty. The film also stars Asin Thottumkal and Prachi Desai.
Ajay Devgn, who plays a pehelwan (bodybuilder) in the film,
shocked the film’s crew by lifting a “ballam” and twirling it like
a real bodybuilder. The director had picked a lighter ballam for
Devgn but the actor insisted on picking up the real thing and
impressed the whole crew. The film features music by Himesh
Reshammiya and Ajay-Atul.

Manoj Kumar to Direct DNA Report
Legendary actor and director Manoj Kumar is all set to return
to direction with a film called DNA Report. This will be his first
directorial venture since the film Clerk in 1989. “DNA Report
is about how a man becomes a victim of a DNA test when he
has never had any emotional or physical relationship with a
woman. Then how does the DNA report say he’s the father of
the woman’s child? This is a subject I’ve never been into,”
Kumar told Bollywood Hungama. He added, “I am not a
greedy film person even as an actor. While my contemporaries
Dharmendra and Shashi Kapoor acted in nearly 300 films each,
I’ve done hardly 35 films in my entire career.” Among all the
films that Manoj Kumar has directed, he considers the 1972
classic Shor his finest.

Freida Pinto Stars in Trishna
Freida Pinto returns to
India with her next film
Trishna, which releases
in the U.S. on July 13.
Co-starring Riz Ahmed,
the film explores the
tension between ancient
privilege and modern
equality, and comes from filmmaker Michael Winterbottom,
director of the Angelina Jolie-Irrfan Khan film A Mighty Heart.
Based on Thomas Hardy’s classic novel “Tess of the
D’Ubervilles,” Pinto portrays the title character Trishna, who
lives with her family in a village in Rajasthan, India’s largest
state. As the eldest daughter, she works in a nearby resort to
help pay the bills. Jay (Riz Ahmed) is the wealthy son of a
property developer. When he takes up managing a resort at his
father’s request, he meets Trishna at a dance and their fates
cross. Jay finds every opportunity to win Trishna’s affection
and she accepts his efforts with shy curiosity. But when the two
move to Mumbai and become a couple, Jay’s deep family bond
threatens the young lovers’ bliss. Trishna also features Roshan
Seth and Anurag Kashyap.

Jackie Shroff in Dhoom 3
Yesteryear superstar Jackie Shroff has signed on for
Yash Raj Film’s Dhoom 3. Producer Aditya Chopra
approached Shroff to play a pivotal role in the
third installment of the popular action packed
franchise. In Dhoom 3 Shroff will share screen space
with his Rangeela co-star Aamir Khan after a gap of 17 years.
Dhoom 3, directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya also stars Katrina
Kaif, Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra and is slated for
release in 2013.

No 3D for Joker
Akshay Kumar fans will have to wait a little longer to see their
star in 3D as Shirish Kunder’s sci-fi fantasy adventure film
Joker, which stars Kumar in the lead, is no longer a 3D film. The
makers of Joker wanted it to be the first 3D film with a big star,
but since Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.One and Don 2 have already
been released in 3D, they decided against the format. Joker also
stars Sonakshi Sinha, Shreyas Talpade and Minissha Lamba
and will release worldwide on September 14, 2012..

Paresh Rawal replaces
Prakash Raj in Sher

Ranbir Kapoor signs for
Bombay Velvet

Wanted and Singham’s arch-villain Prakash Raj has walked out
of the Sanjay Dutt-Vivek Oberoi starrer Sher. A source told
Bollywood Hungama, “Basically Prakash Raj walked out
because of the constant changes in the script. By the time he
came around to actually shooting, his role was very different
from what he had been narrated. Prakash who is used to
playing pivotal parts in both Bollywood and South Indian
cinema opted out because of the fluid script.” Paresh Rawal,
who has played numerous villains, has stepped in as a lastminute replacement. When asked about replacing Prakash Raj,
Saathee.com

Anurag Kashyap has found his hero in Ranbir Kapoor for his
ambitious dream project, Bombay Velvet. Kapoor will be
romancing Anushka Sharma in the period film set in the sixties.
Apparently Kashyap originally had Ranveer Singh in mind for
the lead role, but decided to go with the more bankable star
Kapoor. The film is based on Mumbai Fables, a semi-fictional
study of Bombay in the 1960s by Gyan Prakash, a historian and
professor of history at Princeton University, is expected to go
on floors by the end of this year.
22

Saint Tulsidās (1532 – 1623): One of the
greatest writers and poets of Hindu
scriptures; he wrote the classic epic
“Rāmacharitmānas” in Avadhi (a language
similar to Hindi). Tulsidas was born to
Hulsi and Atmaram Shukla Dube in
Rajapur, (Chitrakuta) Uttar Pradesh on the
banks of the Yamuna River. The legend has
Lyrics in English:
it that instead of crying at birth he uttered the name of “Rama.”
Shri Rāmachandra kripālu bhaju mana,
Tulsidas grew up to be a poet, philosopher and reformer, known
Harana bhava bhaya dārunam; Shri Ram...Nava kanja lochana
for his devotion to Lord Rama. After being abandoned by his
kanja mukha, kara kanja pada kanjārunam
parents after birth, his mother’s servant, Chuniya, took him to
Kandarpa aganita amita chavi, nava neela neerada sundaram
her village of Haripur and took care of him for about five years,
Pata pita mānahu tadita ruchi suchi, navmi janaka sutāvaram
until her death. He became an orphan and was adopted by
Bhaju deena bandhu dinesh dānava, daitya vansha
Narharidās, a Vaishnava, who became his first Guru and
nikandanam Raghunanda ānand kanda koushala chanda
repeatedly narrated the story of Rama to him. Tulsidas went to
dasaratha nandanam Shira mukuta kundala tilaka chāru, udāra
Varanasi and studied the Vedas, Sanskrit, and astrology and
anga vibushanam Āajanu bhuja sharachāp dhara, sangrāma jita
began narrating the Rama Katha. One day, when his wife went
khara dushanam
to visit her father, he swam across the Yamuna to see her in the
Iti vadati Tulasidās shankara, sesha muni mana ranjanam
middle of the night. She remarked that if he were even half as
Mama hriday kunja nivās kuru, kāmādi khala dala ganjanam.
devoted to God as he was to her body of flesh and blood, he
would be redeemed. Those words changed his life. After that he
Meaning (Summary): Praise Lord Sri Rama, O Heart! for he
became a sadhu (Hindu ascetic) and spent most of his time at
removes the fear of cycles of birth and death and other
Varanasi, Prayag, Ayodhyā and Chitrakuta. He traveled across
perils. His eyes, face, hands and legs are all like freshly
India to meet saints and the people for the purpose of meditation.
blossomed lotuses. Praise Lord Rama, whose beauty is
In 1575, he wrote the epic poem “Rāmacharitmānas” (Rama
unparallel by even countless cupids, whose body is like a
Kathā) partly in Sanskrit and Avadhi languages, in Ayodhā (the
beautiful blue cloud, whose garb gleams like lightning and
birthplace of Rama). This epic is broken up into stanzas called
who is married to the daughter of Janaka. Sing the glory of the
Chaupāis, Dohās or couplets which can be sung to any Ragas. It
lord, who is the upholder of the poor and who vanquished the
is filled with exquisite poetry and consists of seven chapters
demonic races. He is the moon of queen Koushalyā and the
which cover the different periods of Lord Rama’s life, taking us
dearest to the King Dasaratha. Praise Lord Ram, who wears a
right from his boyhood through his exile and his life in the forest,
crown, adorned with ear rings, tilak on his forehead and who is
to the abduction of Sita, the war with Rawana in Lanka and the
decorated with jewelery. He who has long arms, who bears a
recovery of his wife Sita, and finally establishing Rama Rājya.
bow and arrow and defeated Khar – Dushan in battle. Tulsidās
The last chapter is philosophical and gives advice on how to live
proclaims, O! Lord you have ﬁlled the hearts of Lord Shiva,
a better life. He sent the manuscript of the “Rāmacharitmānas”
Ādisesha and Saints with bliss. Please reside in my heart and
to his friend Todarmal, the finance minister of Mogul emperor
expurgate the inferior feelings of desire.
Akbar. Abdur Rahim, famous Muslim poet in the court Akbar,
wrote that the “Rāmacharitmānas” is the breath of the life of
saints. This Kathā is being narrated and explained in detail even
today by many scholars like Shri Morāri Bapu, Bhāi Shri and
others in India and across the world. Tulsidas passed away on
the Assi Ghāt, on the bank of the river Ganga. Like the year of
his birth, traditional accounts and biographers do not agree on
the exact date of his death. Through Asia, the Ramayana has
served not only as poetry, but as the ideal of life and embodiment
of the principles, as the basis for festivals, plays and rituals, as
the foundation for religion and as an eternal tale of love and
duty. Other works include: Dohāvali, Kavitāvali, Gitāvali,
Krishna Gitāvali, Hanuman Chālisā, and Vinay Patrikā.
Kirit Shukla
Contact him at
kiritsshukla@hotmail.com

See this song on Nazar Television in July.
Visit saathee.com for Nazar Television local listings.
Saathee.com

Evolution of Carnatic music - a series
By Smitha K. Prasad
Dear readers, over the past few columns, we have looked at
the contribution of women to the ever evolving field of Carnatic
music. Women started off as mainly composers and then with
the passage of time, rose to become prominent performers. This
month, we look at the last of the trinity of female performersSmt. D. K. Pattammal.
Smt. Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal (1919-2009) was born
into an orthodox Brahmin family. Her father, a music
enthusiast, inspired her to learn music. Her mother, despite
being a talented singer, was not allowed to perform in public;
in fact, even singing for family and relatives was not permitted
in keeping with the orthodox tradition that Brahmin women
were not allowed to perform on stage. As a child, Pattammal
attended numerous concerts and on returning home would
notate the krithis (musical compositions) that she had heard in
the concert.
She then trained under many vidwans to acquire a rich
repertoire of compositions. She was a trailblazer in the field of
Carnatic music by being the first Brahmin woman to perform
publicly. Pattammal was also the first woman to perform
complex concert items such as the Ragam Tanam Pallavi in
intricate talas (rhythmic cycles).
Pattammal was one of the earliest musicians to sing in films.
Readers may remember from previous columns that Smt.
Pattammal only sang songs in films if they were either
devotional or patriotic.
Several of her films highlighted India’s freedom movement
against the British; as a result, they were banned by the British
government. Her signature song “Shanti Nilava Vendum”
called for world peace reiterating the non-violent ideologies of
Mahatma Gandhi. Many people still remember the patriotic
songs that she sang over AIR (All India Radio) at the stroke of
midnight on August 14, 1947 when India attained freedom from
British rule.
Smt. Pattammal, like the other musicians in the trinity of
female Carnatic musicians, also received the Sangitha Kalanidhi
title (in 1970). Additionally, she received the Padma Vibhushan
(India’s second highest civilian honor) in 1998.
Till we meet next time, do listen to one of Smt. Pattammal’s
most popular songs “Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai”- you will be
able to find clips of her rendition on the Internet, either on
YouTube or other similar services.
She also has many recordings that are available from music
sellers.

Encourage singing for fun. Many children enjoy singing songs
with their parents or friends as a group activity. Teach them
simple sing-along songs or bhajans. Children have a very fast
grasping ability, and will be humming along to any tunes you
teach them. In fact, if this is made a group activity with other
children, they will be more enthusiastic to meet their friends and
sing together on a regular basis, develop the artistic skill in
singing or playing instrument in them.
Once your child reaches around seven years of age, enroll him
in music classes if he has shown a consistent interest in music.
Initially, music classes will be about exposing your child to the
basics of swara and tala, while instilling the discipline of learning
in a systematic method.
You all know, these are just some guidelines to nurturing the
musical instincts of your child. The more music reaches their
ears, the more likely they will seek it out as they grow up!
I’m glad to announce that I’ve started a ‘Raag Sarita’ series on
www.anitakulkarni.com under the video section. I’ve covered
about ‘The History and Introduction of Hindustani Classical Music’
and the term ‘Raga’. In the next episode, I’ll introduce the most
popular ‘Raga-Yaman’. Your feedback through email will be
appreciated.

Art of Living
International Center
for Meditation and
Well-Being in Boone, NC

There is a great secret in the
breath. You have an inbuilt
ability to calm the mind,
heal the body and energize
the whole system in minutes.
The secret is in the breath.
-His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi ShankarFounder Art of Living Foundation

The Center is situated in the majestic beauty of Blue Ridge
Mountains just outside of Boone NC and is expected to attract
thousands of visitors each year from around the globe.
Spend an evening of Wisdom & Meditation in the company of
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Enjoy breath taking views of
the mountains.

Special Guru Purnima Event July 3, 2012
Seating opens at 2pm The venue for this is offsite, at Appalachian
State University Convocation Center --Holmes Center, 111 River
St., Boone, NC. A special day to look back on your spiritual
progress and appreciate the gifts of wisdom and grace in your life.
RSVP here to reserve your
space (unless you are already
registered for a course).
http://secure.artofliving.org/event_details.aspx?event_id=103141

By Dr. Maha Gingrich
Do dancers need to know Yoga?
Recently, I am noticing that most of the
kids are not very flexible. Due to busy
schedules of parents and kids, many kids
do not take time to stretch. As dance
teachers, that will pose a challenge to teach
intricate dances with difficult Karanas or a
sequence of poses to students. Dance and
Yoga are connected in many ways.
I read that Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra was
inspired by an encounter with Lord
Nataraja (The founder of Dances). If that is true, I can easily
see the connection. Yoga means Union. Yoga and dance both
begin with union of the body and mind. Both are approached
in sequence through logical steps. Both are universal sciences,
suited to all students who seek self realization.
We begin dance with Namaste (Salutation) just like (Surya
Namaskar) sun salutations in Yoga. Using the Anjali or prayer
hand gesture, we touch our forehead which represents the Ajna
Chakra in Yoga, and then we bring our hands down to our chest
which represents Anahata Chakra. Even the hand gesture
(mudra) for meditation is Arala in both yoga and dance. When
I was teaching yoga, I taught these dance hand gestures
(Hasthas) to people suffering with arthritis.
I also taught the Vrikshasana, the tree pose (Standing on one
foot), among others, with dance movements to find both inner
and outer balance. Many of the advanced poses in dance
require flexibility of body and a systematic way to control the
body movements. Out of 108 poses (Karanas), very few can be
performed without training in Yoga for flexibility.
Even the word Hatha Yoga would mean the balance of Ha
(Sun) and Tha (Moon) that are part of our dance ornaments that
we place as part of our head dress. Dancers need to balance
these two forms representing masculine and feminine energies.
We need to have the strength in our foot steps while depicting
the graceful movements with our hands.
I strongly recommend that during summertime or anytime
during the year enroll your child in Yoga classes or buy a yoga
DVD and practice yoga with your child at home. There are
Yoga DVD’s specifically for kids, too. Flexibility has to start at
an early age. This will prevent injuries from sports and other
activities. This will also increase their endurance and will
improve their posture.
I know personally that dance and yoga have influenced all
aspects of my life. I always say that dance is a meditation in
motion. It is a gift given to our culture and many other cultures
around the world. Take time to enjoy and appreciate your gift.

DJ LaLit
Entertainment For All Occasions
WIde SeLeCtIoN oF MuSIC
Hindi, Bhangra, Hip Hop, dance, disco, Pop, & More
State of the Art
Sound System & Lighting
Nationally & Internationally Acclaimed entertainer
ANy CeLeBRAtIoN BIG oR SMALL

How did we get here?
Since the UPA’s second term began in 2009, economists and
investors have been clamoring for new financial reforms that
will reduce India’s budget deficit and stimulate its now slowing
growth. But corruption allegations that forced Singh to remove
his former telecommunications minister and brought tens of
thousands of protesters onto the streets weakened his Congress
Party’s mandate.
As a result, the prime minister was not able to push through
any significant financial reforms during his government’s twoyear, post-election honeymoon period.
Meanwhile, despite concerns about a rising budget deficit,
his government passed laws enshrining universal education as
a basic right and expanding a government food subsidy to
cover three-quarters of the rural population and half of city
dwellers — which some estimates say will cost nearly $20
billion.
Singh’s “Report to the People” at the UPA anniversary
function on Tuesday heralded as achievements four bills aimed
at curbing corruption by making the government more efficient
and transparent — including one designed to create nationaland state-level ombudsmen, which was demanded by anticorruption activist Anna Hazare last year.
But all four are still far from being passed.
Worse, opposition from Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress — a
new coalition partner for the UPA in its second term — forced
Singh to roll back a move to allow direct investments from big
foreign retailers like Walmart through executive fiat in
December, killing his only significant attempt at economic
reform and sparking accusations of “policy paralysis.”
“Managing the economy has become almost synonymous
with managing the coalition,” said Pai Panandiker, president
of the RPG Foundation, an independent think tank.
“They [Singh and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi]
are not able to manage the coalition,” Panandiker said, referring
to the opposition to economic reforms from Congress Party
allies like the Trinamool Congress. “That is why they they
cannot manage the economy. That is the crux of the whole
problem.”
Government paralysis has already taken a toll. Economic
growth dropped below 7 percent last year, India’s slowest pace
since the 2008 global financial crisis.
Factory output fell by an 3.5 percent in March. Foreign
institutional investors — that is, fund managers in the US and
Europe — pulled $140 million out of Indian markets in April,
exacerbating a plunge that has seen the rupee plummet more
than 10 percent against the dollar since March 1. And though
most analysts say it’s too soon for comparisons to the balance
of payments crisis of 1991, what few measures Singh’s
government has taken have served only to throw gasoline on
the fire.
“The final trigger came with the political outcomes in Greece
and in France,” said Shubhata Rao, chief economist at Yes Bank.
But the foundation was laid by “the measures introduced in the
budget, which weren’t really global-investment friendly.”
Breaching an unheard of 56 against the dollar this week, the
rupee has been hitting record lows on a daily basis. Some say it
could be headed for 60, raising the specter of a vicious cycle and
a possible crisis if foreigners abandon Indian markets
wholesale. But as recently as this January, when investors were
looking forward to a possible rate cut from the central bank and
a bold new budget from the finance ministry, it was Asia’s best
performing currency.

The battered Rupee and its effects

By Jason Overdorf - GlobalPost.com
COIMBATORE, India — Combating charges of “policy
paralysis,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raised India’s gas
prices by the steepest amount ever on Wednesday, in an effort
to woo back foreign investors and slow the fall of the
plummeting rupee.
But the sudden, bold, and much needed move could well put
an end to hopes of a third term for his United Progressive
Alliance coalition — and could also lead to a call for early polls.
By hiking the petrol prices charged by India’s state-owned
oil companies nearly eight rupees per liter — or more than 10
percent — the government will dramatically reduce fuel
subsidies, and thus reduce the fiscal deficit. But even though
that is exactly the move that economists and investors have
demanded to signal that Singh is willing to make the hard
choices needed to get India’s economy, and the rupee, back on
track, he is already facing demands that he reverse the decision
from his coalition partners.
This could be the beleaguered prime minister’s moment of
truth. If he faces down his recalcitrant allies, Singh could once
again emerge as the hero of reforms who averted a financial
crisis and put India on the path to rapid growth in 1991.
If he caves to pressure, he could erase any achievements he
has made since taking office in 2004 and send India’s flagging
economy spiraling. Sticking to his guns might bring down the
government, forcing snap polls. And rolling back yet another
policy would virtually ensure his Congress Party’s failure in
the next scheduled election.
For now, however briefly, the prime minister appears to have
snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
His most truculent ally, Mamata Banerjee of the West Bengalbased Trinamool Congress, has intimated that she has no plans
to withdraw support for the government — despite her howls
of protest over the petrol price hike. And though he has also
criticized the petrol price hike, Mulayam Singh Yadav, the head
of another powerful regional party that is not yet part of the
UPA, was seated on the dais at a function celebrating the third
anniversary of the coalition’s second term on Tuesday,
suggesting that Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi may
already have secured Yadav’s backup if Banerjee does pull out.
Still, the maneuver truly came at the eleventh hour. And it
remains to be seen if it will be enough. The rupee continued to
slide Thursday, setting a new record low of 56.4 against the
dollar in intraday trading after closing at 55.98 the day before.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports speculated that a panel of
government ministers have discussed a price hike in diesel and
kerosene. A move that would be even riskier politically.
Saathee.com

Confucius
Institute:
Education
Bonus or
wily
Trojan
Horse?
The US has 325 of these controversial Chinese cultural
outposts. Some Americans sing their praises, while others
fear the long-term impact.
By Benjamin Carlson - GlobalPost.com
HONG KONG, China — An increasing number of American
universities have at least one interest in common with China’s
Communist government: Confucius Institutes.
First established in 2004, these controversial cultural outposts
have multiplied at colleges around the country, with over 80 in
the US this year — more than any other country in the world.
Funded by Beijing, and explicitly designed to improve
China’s “soft power” around the globe, Confucius Institutes
came under fire in May 2012 when the US State Department
unexpectedly announced new rules targeting them.
In a recent surprise announcement on May 17, the US said
that many of the program’s language teachers were in America
on improper visas, and would have to leave the country to reapply. In addition, the note said that Confucius Institutes
would have to obtain additional accreditation.
The rules caused a stir in
China,
where
netizens
Whatever its motive,
mocked both countries, and a
nobody can doubt that
nationalist tabloid asked,
“Why is Washington so
Confucius Institutes are a
afraid of Confucius?” In
core part of the Chinese
America,
affiliated
Govt strategy to build soft
universities scrambled to
power around the world.
compose defenses for their
Confucius Institute staff.
Many speculated that the policy
was America’s tit-for-tat response to China’s crackdown on
illegal foreigners.
Less than a day later, after a furious diplomatic back-andforth, the State Department reversed itself completely. Now, it
said, teachers could stay in the US, and would even get US
government help to obtain the correct documents. The
department spokesman went so far as to call the original
decision “sloppy and not complete.”
Why such a big blowup over a few dozen cultural facilities?
While many people see the institutes as benign, bringing
skilled language instruction to far-flung universities like
Kansas, New Hampshire and Texas — not to mention Stanford
and Columbia — critics worry about the long-term impact of
having Communist Party-sponsored facilities on American
campuses.
“The [Confucius Institute] is a tool of the Chinese
government and Communist Party to promote China’s interest
Saathee.com

abroad,” says Chris Reardon, a China expert at the University
of New Hampshire, which has one of these institutes. “It is up
to the foreign host institution to institute safeguards and
oversight.”
In particular, critics worry that the Confucius Institutes could
inhibit academic freedom by refusing to engage in debate over
issues that Beijing views as sensitive: Tibet, Taiwan, China’s
military, Falun Gong.
Many users of China’s microblog service, Weibo, share this
view. “It’s very necessary for the US to prevent China from
promoting enslaving education and authoritarian thoughts,”
wrote one.
“The teachers probably only teach about enslavement and
dictatorship. Teachers from Taiwan won’t be sent back,” wrote
another.
Moreover, some people believe that because of their ties to
Beijing Confucius Institutes could serve as a cover for
monitoring Chinese students abroad, industrial espionage and
recruiting spies.
In testimony before Congress this March, Steven Mosher of
the Population Research Institute, a human rights NGO,
pointed out that the parent organization of Confucius Institutes,
Hanban, is indirectly controlled by China’s United Front Work
Department, which is responsible for “subversion, cooption and
control.” He cited the work of James F. Paradise of UCLA, who
called the institutes “Trojan horses” for China.
Perhaps even more telling, the propaganda chief of China has
said that the Confucius Institutes are “an important part of
China’s overseas propaganda set-up.”
But defenders point out that these fears are still only
hypothetical. As it stands, Confucius Institutes simply offer
straightforward language and cultural programming.
In April, middle school students in Alabama were treated to
a traditional Chinese orchestral concert at Troy University’s
Confucius Institute. And for universities that lack adequate
Chinese instruction, the institutes can seem like a blessing; each
institute brings $100,000 to several million dollars in funding
per year, along with native Chinese teachers and cultural
events.
“Among the faculty who teach about Asia, there was
considerable concern originally about the Confucius Institute,”
said Kristin Stapleton, director of the institute at the University
of Buffalo. “Some thought it [would] lead to attempts to
influence academic programs on campus. However, those fears
have subsided, as our programs have developed and people
have seen their worth.
“So far, we have not experienced any attempt to limit our
academic freedom. … They give us a lot of latitude to
accomplish those goals and have never tried to interfere with
our school’s academic freedom. If they did, of course we would
not be able to host a Confucius Institute.”
Whatever its motive, nobody can doubt that Confucius
Institutes are a core part of the Chinese government’s strategy
to build its soft power around the world. Since the program was
founded in 2004, Beijing has spent more than $500 million,
according to estimates from Bloomberg.
By 2020, Beijing wants to have 1,000 of them, up from 325
today.
Of course, the US is engaged in a bit of cultural diplomacy of
its own, even with the drawdown in spending since the Cold
War. The University of Nebraska, for its part, has set up an
institute to promote American culture and history in Xi’an,
China, where it gives programs on jazz and “Who’s Afraid of
Virginia Woolf.”

36

July 2012

Nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;in
North
Charlotte!

704-858-0782
or write us at info@ritusselects.com
Visit us on Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/rituSelects
for more updates

INDIAN CUISINE
Open 7 Days a week
for Buffet Lunch &
Dinner A La Carte
• Full Service Catering in
North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, & Virginia
• Business / Corporate Functions,
Weddings, Birthdays, Holidays,
Community Gatherings, etc.

By Swapna Krishna
The Newlyweds
Author: Nell Freudenberger
(Knopf)
Amina Mazid is a woman living in
Bangladesh, and at twenty-four, she is
about to be married. Not to just anyone,
though - Amina is going to move to
Rochester, New York with her new
husband George Stillman, whom she met
on an online dating site. Amina is excited
to build a future in a new country with her
new husband, but she has unrevealed
desires and hopes of which she tells
George nothing. What Amina doesn’t
know, though, is that George is harboring his own secrets that
could tear their delicate marriage apart.
“The Newlyweds” is a beautifully depicted cross-cultural
story of two very different people. The novel is told from
Amina’s point of view, and her story is, in some ways, a very
sad one. She is leaving everything she knows and loves in hopes
that she will have a better future with George in America. But,
at the same time, she doesn’t feel that she can truly confide in
George. From the beginning, she wants her parents to come live
with her and George in Rochester, yet she knows that George
isn’t willing to invite them into their home permanently. This
lack of communication is telling and characterizes the marriage
for much of the novel.
It’s interesting when the main character isn’t necessarily the
most sympathetic, which is the case in “The Newlyweds.”
That’s not to say that Amina isn’t likeable, but that it’s George
who many will likely feel for the most. The cultural differences
between Amina and George are vast, yet it’s often him, rather
than her, who is willing to bridge the gap. It brings up the
question of compromise, which is so important in marriage and
is relevant whether your marriage is cross-cultural or not. It also
will provoke thoughts of what Amina might owe George - is
she beholden to him for marrying her and providing her with
a chance at a better life, or is that to be expected because he’s in
love with her?
That being said, Amina is a woman that readers will fall in
love with, despite her flaws, or rather, because of them. She is
torn between what she wants and what George wants, what her
culture dictates versus what might make her marriage a little
better, a little easier. Her experiences in Rochester with a brand
new culture make for a quintessential immigrant tale, and
Amina’s thoughts about the process illustrate it beautifully.
Nell Freudenberger’s writing in “The Newlyweds” is poetic.
She constructs her characters so carefully, with such art, that
the reader comes to know them intimately by the end of the
novel. It’s difficult to remember that Amina is part of
Fredenberger’s imagination, rather than a woman living her life
in Rochester, beyond the confines of the book.
This is a quiet novel that speaks in whispers, in hushed tones
that contain incisive observations and profound thoughts. It’s
not about explosive revelations or twists and turns; instead, it’s
about subtlety. In fact, it’s difficult to understand exactly what
Saathee.com

the driving force of the novel is. In a less talented author’s
hands, it could have easily been boring, dragging on for
chapters where nothing happens. But Freudenberger makes
this novel as compelling as any fast-paced thriller. Readers will
race to discover what happens to Amina as she tries to find her
way in the United States. Freudenberger has left the novel openended, and readers will clamor for a sequel as no one will be
quite ready to let go of Amina and George when the last pages
are finished.
The Legend of Pradeep Mathew
Author: Shehan Karunatilaka
(Graywolf Press)
W.G. Karunasena (also called Wije) is a
sportswriter who has spent his life drinking
his days away. Now, his doctor informs him
that, unless he stops drinking, he will die
soon. Instead of doing the responsible thing,
Wije chooses to continue with this lifestyle
and decides to make a documentary about
the history of Sri Lankan cricket. He wants
to focus on Pradeep Mathew, a cricketer
that almost everyone else has forgotten
about, but finds difficulty at every turn in
his search for information. Who was Pradeep Mathew, and why
do people not want his story told?
When I first heard about “The Legend of Pradeep Mathew,”
I had no idea it was the same book that had been published as
“Chinaman” in other countries (though the change of name is
wise, especially for US audiences, yes?). “Chinaman” won the
DSC Prize for South Asian Literature in 2012, and when it was
awarded, I lamented that the book wasn’t available in the US.
Now it is, and that made me even more excited to pick up “The
Legend of Pradeep Mathew.” (And let me add that chinaman
isn’t meant to be offensive - it’s the word used to describe a leftarm spinner in cricket.)
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a fan of cricket. It’s not
my game; I don’t really understand the rules, as much as I’ve
tried. Therefore, the fact that “The Legend of Pradeep Mathew”
is about a cricket player gave me some pause; that is, until I
started reading the book. I was instantly taken in by
Karunatilaka’s unique writing style. It’s at once engaging, but
never pretentious. The words flow easily and beautifully, but
the prose is never so lofty as to lose the reader or abandon the
story in favor of poetry. It’s a lovely balance, and makes for a
great reading experience.
The novel is centered on Wije’s search for Pradeep Mathew.
It’s clear from the beginning that someone or something is
standing in Wije’s way. Time and again, he’s promised full
funding if he drops his inquiries into Mathew, or he watches as
people come forward with information about the cricketer and
then disappear. This mystery is one of the driving forces in the
story, and Karunatilaka does a wonderful job renewing and
keeping it fresh over the course of the book.
continued on page 80
Swapna Krishna
Read more book reviews on her blog at
www.skrishnasbooks.com

Laying the Foundations for learning early in life is critical and
engaging young children in a nurturing, structured, educational
environment is proven to make all the diﬀerence to children’s
future success. We are proud to announce the expansion of our
Early Years Foundation Stage to include a new 2 year old program,
setting an unparalleled standard in early childhood education.
Come and take a personal tour and find out first hand why it is
we make a world of diﬀerence.

704.341.3236
admissionsbasc@wclschools.org

www.britishschoolofcharlotte.org

Saathee.com

SERVING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
My parents are IMMIGRANTS therefore I can
understand your situation. You will be treated
with the utmost integrity and respect.
Saturday and telephone consultations available

For ages
2 to 16

Member American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

41

July 2012

pop track oozes joy, positive energy, youthfulness and hipness.
C’mon, bring on the party. “Tera Naam Japdi Phiran (Version 2)”
(4.11) also works quite well, actually—the tempo is faster and is
even better to dance to.
“Luttna (Saif Ul Malook)” (5.01) is a really innovative Sufi
composition—who could have thought rock and dubstep could
work for a Sufi number? The song has a psychedelic feel and the
chorus is brilliant. Masuma Anwar, Sahir Ali Bagga and Anupam
Amod all do a wonderful job collaborating as vocalists. The
reverb is awesome and the electric guitar riffs give the song an
appropriate dark feel. This track is totally awesome. “Luttna
(Version 2)” (4.44) is way too subdued compared to the original
to leave as much of an impact. But, that’s just my opinion. Listen
and decide for yourself.
“Jugni” (6.57) certainly stands out in the album thanks to two
very strong vocalists—Arif Lohar and Harshdeep Kaur—both
roped in for one composition. Arif Lohar’s “Jugni” on the
Pakistani Coke Studio was really haunting, too. It’s a wonderful
rendition, with gorgeous melody and gorgeous lyrics.
Well, Pritam certainly is back in full form as they’d say in India.
Cocktail is an interesting concoction—give it a gulp, erm, listen,
for “Second Hand Jawani,” “Tera Naam Japdi Phiran,” “Luttna,”
“Jugni,” “Yaariyaan” and “Tum Hi Ho Bandhu.” It’s good to
finally have a soundtrack where more than half the songs are
very enjoyable and there’s not much filler.

By Amanda Sodhi
Cocktail - Original Soundtrack
Well, the promos of Homi
Adajania’s Cocktail sure seem
exciting
and
promise
an
entertaining romcom. Let’s see if
the soundtrack, by Pritam, is also as
entertaining to the ears. Cocktail
stars the Love Aaj Kal pair Saif Ali
Khan and Deepika Padukone, in
addition to Diana Penty and Randeep Hooda. Dimple Kapadia
and Boman Irani are also along for the ride. There are ten
compositions, so without wasting any more time, let’s jump right
into the soundtrack.
“Tum Hi Ho Bandhu” (4.42) is a catchy, positive beginning to
Cocktail’s soundtrack. It has a really upbeat, electronic-synth feel
to it. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics are warm and adequate. Kavita Seth’s
husky vocals really stand out and are a clever choice for this
composition, perhaps the best thing about the song. Neeraj
Shridhar’s vocals offer an interesting contrast to Kavita Seth’s.
“Daaru Desi” (4.30) is another super cool composition. Benny
Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade’s (“Pareshaan”) vocals are
extremely breezy and youthful sounding. The acoustic guitar and
percussion arrangements are pleasant on the ears and the entire
composition has a chilled out, seductive touch. Benny and
Shalmali’s vocal pairing has a nice, laidback feel. This is a feelgood song with feel-good lyrics.
“Yaariyaan” (6.18) is a much mellower composition. The drum
solo at the beginning followed by the electric guitar riffs sounds
great, but what really makes the song special is Agnee’s lead
vocalist Mohan Kannan’s vocals. The man’s got a really soulful
voice with a captivating, soothing texture. The lyrics are beautiful
and capture the feelings of heartbreak and wishing one’s beloved
the best nonetheless very well. Shilpa Rao also does justice to her
portions. Both Mohan and Shilpa, are without a doubt, two very
gifted vocalists with very deep voices. The semi-classical touch
Mohan offers is really quite lovely.
“Yaariyan (Reprise)” (5.14) is an interesting alternate version.
Sunidhi Chauhan’s vocals are jazzier and Arijit Singh’s
accompanying vocals are a treat to hear, as well. This acoustic
version focuses more on the piano and cello, but it sounds too
upbeat compared to the original which blended better with the
mood of the lyrics.
Party time, Miss Pooja style oye! “Second Hand Jawaani” (4.02)
is the dance number of the year. I mean how can one not get up
and shake it with fantastic beats like this. Miss Pooja and Neha
Kakkar’s vocals gel together rather well. The dholak and hip-hop
beats are irresistible and the lyrics are amusing. Nakkash Aziz’s
vocals are average but that doesn’t matter too much since the
ladies steal the show here anyway. C’mon go have some masti
and set the dance floor on fire with this energetic number.
So, looks like the party is here to stay with “Tera Naam Japdi
Phiran” (3.39). Let’s pretend we didn’t hear the lame English
portions by Shefali and Nikhil D’Souza—they are both good
vocalists but this song is strictly a Javed Bashir show. The man’s
pure desi vocals are glorious. Check out his previous work with
Mekaal Hasan Band if you haven’t yet. Ok, back to “Tera Naam
Japdi Phiran”—another song perfect for the clubs. The electronicSaathee.com

amanda Sodhi is a Bollywood journalist,
lyricist, screenwriter, and PR/marketing
practitioner based in Los Angeles.

this is the Best buyers' market i have ever seen!
If you are considering buying a home within the next 12 months,
now is the time to get the ball rolling.
With my negotiation skills, I helped save previous clients more money
than they expected and they were able to put that money into other
personal things that was on their wish list.
Before signing up with another Realtor, come meet with me and you
will be convinced I am the perfect Realtor to have on your side.

Check out our New Website!

Selling a home? Call and ask me how your home can be the featured home on
charlottearea.com for FREE!
Buying a home? Log on to charlottearea.com, try our customized search and get results tailored
specifically to your needs.
Looking for a short sale or foreclosure opportunity?
I know of many great deals that you may not be aware of. Call me to get a list of what is available.

What’s a snowman’s favorite cereal?
Frosted flakes.
What do you call chips that aren’t yours?
Nachos!

Word World

What did the blanket say to the bed?
I got you covered.

By Kirit Shukla

W
R

S

A
I

What store does a dog refuse to go to?
A flea market.

E

Where does a snowman keep his money?
In the snowbank.

T

What did the wave say to the boat?
Nothing. It just waved.
Where does the math teacher sit at lunch?
At the multiplication table!

Make words using 4 or more letters. The central letter must
be used in each word. Use all letters for the subject word.
34 + words = Excellent; 26 to 32 words = Good; 25 or less
needs to improve. (Solution at bottom of page)

What goes up and down but not left or right?
An elevator.

Dadaji’s story #15

Why was 6 afraid of 7?
Because 7 8 9!

There was a queen of the jungle. She was fond of babies. She
made an announcement: “I want all the animals in my palace
with their babies. I will award a prize to the most beautiful
baby.” Many animals came to the queen’s palace with their
babies. She was looking at the babies one by one. When she
came to a monkey, she said: “This is an ugly baby. I will not
give you award.” The baby monkey started crying. The mother
monkey said to her baby: “Do not cry my child. You are more
precious to me than anyone else in the world. I love you. We
do not want the prize from the queen; because she does not
know that every child is precious.”
Question: Why the queen was not right?
Moral: The love of a mother has no equals.
(Story from Panchatantra)

The SouthEast's Hardest Working
& Most Creative Indian DJ
International DJ & Hit Music Producer

Kenz Desai
FA M I LY D J N U M B E R O N E !

Riddles:
What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman?
Frostbite.

Featured in the world's leading media

Why did the cow cross the road?
To get to the udder side.
What keeps running, but never gets tired? Has a bank, but no
money? Has a bed but never sleeps on it?
A river.
Why did the teacher wear sunglasses to school?
Because her students were very bright!

4. The stage manager has to ring the curtain up and down. ___
5. Her ten-year-old grandson runs rings around her on the
computer. __
6. Those excuses for incomplete homework ring hollow. ___
7. The phone will ring off the hook after they make that
announcement. ___

Mastering Meaning
By Judith L. Bergman M.A. CCC

a. Announced that he would be a candidate for election.
b. Has more skill or ability.
c. Sound familiar
d. People will call continuously.
e. Sounds likely and factual
f. Doesn’t sound true or sincere.
g. In the theater, raise and lower the curtain on the stage.

Newspaper headlines and advertising copy are a rich language
resource for non-native speakers of English but the “riches” are
often “hidden in plain sight.” Often ESL speakers may not
recognize the “play on words” using idioms, metaphors and
multiple meaning words.
Here are three examples I found in the Raleigh News & Observer
that were in the (1) Sports (2) Sunday coupon book and (3) a
jewelry store ad. We’ll feature another three headlines in our
August column.

Suggestions to increase your mastery of meaning:
Pick one headline a week and check the online reference below
to find out if key words in the headline have multiple meanings
or are in idiomatic phrases.

Two Duke divers take an Olympic plunge
Scott Fowler’s Commentary column in the June 14, 2012 N & O
Sports section was a feature article about two Duke students who
are strong hopefuls to qualify for the American Olympic diving
team and may even win a medal. Plunge, of course can mean to
dive but the meaning of the metaphor take a plunge is revealed
in the last sentence: “And then, a leap into the unknown.” To take
the plunge may mean to decide to do something that may be
risky, important or difficult or that you have been thinking about
doing for a long time. 1

The best stuff in the joint.
This is the clever headline of an ad for an arthritis remedy that
was in Sunday N & O coupon booklet. Would you have paused
and seen the humor in the play on words? The expression stuff
would typically refer to the featured drink, usually alcoholic,
offered in a “cheap or disreputable gathering place” 2 or joint.
The remedy is being advertised as the best “substance” that could
be absorbed into one’s joints i.e. shoulders, elbows, hips or knees,
or a place where two or more bones are joined and may articulate
(move). Joint is also an adjective meaning a collaborative or
shared undertaking, as in “ The project will be a joint effort.”
Out of joint is an idiom that can mean “out of order,” “in a bad
mood” or “inconsistent.” In the Free Dictionary referenced below
there are other uses that are crude, vulgar or refer to illegal items.
Stuff has several meanings as a noun and verb. 3 It is the
substance or essential element out of which things are formed.
Shakespeare wrote, “We are such stuff/As dreams are made on”
However, you might also talk about “cleaning out all the stuff in
your basement” meaning household articles or even worthless
objects. If you have too many items to fit in your suitcase you
might have to pack it tightly or stuff things in. You can also stuff
a crack with caulking, i.e. plug it up. “Stuff it!” is an informal,
even vulgar slang expression meaning to be quiet and stop acting
up. Do not use this in the office!
“I do.” Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?
This is a very clever headline above a photograph of several
lovely wedding rings handcrafted by a local Durham jeweler and
advertised in the N & O on May 9. A word or phrase that “has a
nice ring to it” sounds interesting and attractive.4 The response
“I do” spoken by a bride during the marriage vows would “have
a nice ring to it” and would be followed by the wedding ring
ceremony! The correct grammar would be that the wedding vow
has “a nice ring” with it, i.e. part of the cerermony.
Match these idioms containing ring with their meaning:
1. That name doesn’t ring a bell. ___
2. He threw his hat in the ring. ___
3. Her story rings true. ___
Saathee.com

46

July 2012

HitchHiker’s Guide to College
Founded by a University Professor
92 Hours Combined
SAT & ACT Prep

Beyond the brand-name of a well advertized test prep center,
have you ever wondered who actually teaches your kid? Is
that person familiar with the inner workings of the university
system and its standardized tests? We are career
academicians who have been integrally involved with
university teaching and administration for more than a
decade. Make the right decision because you cannot afford
to make mistakes.

SrIShTI'S ThIrd AnnuAl KIdS TAlEnT ConTEST prESEnTS
lITTlE AChIEvErS FElICITATIon progrAm
We believe every child is unique. Their success in school or life begins with strong words of
affirmation, encouragement & appreciation in every little thing they do or can do.
If your child has a talent, this is the time to show.
Contest is open to kids ages 3 – 13 & is divided into three age groups in the following categories:
dAnCIng | SIngIng | poETrY/ShorT poEm/mAnTrA rECITATIon | on SpoT ESSAY WrITIng & ArTS

official entry form available at www.saathee.com/lafp
Email completed application to: littleachievers.lafp@gmail.com
The deadline for receipt of this application is Aug 25th,2012.
For more info call manisha Singh 704-778-3158 or
e-mail: littleachievers.lafp@gmail.com
media partners - Saathee magazine, Saathee.com and nazar Television
Saathee.com

47

July 2012

By Chanden Sen
The Millennium Development Goals:
Hurtling Towards 2015
A common man’s approach to what is going on vis-à-vis the
Millennium Development Goals, or MDG, would be to visit
www.un.org, choose your language, and click on the hyperlink
on your right which says Millennium Development Goals.
To galvanize support for the MDG, United Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon in June 2010 established an Advocacy Group of
eminent personalities who have shown outstanding leadership
in promoting the implementation of the Goals – in such fields as
education, food security, health, environment, and the
empowerment of women.
The Group supports the Secretary General in building
political will and mobilizing global action for the benefit of the
poor and most vulnerable, aiming for the achievement of the
MDGs by the 2015 target date. In the words of Dr. Moon, “We
need to expand the coalition for action. That is why I established
the MDG Advocacy Group, some of the world’s leading thinkers
and doers coming together to combat poverty.”
It’s worth mentioning here that Goal #1 refers to the
eradication of poverty. Other goals are child and maternal
health, education for all, environmental sustainability, global
cooperation, the eradication of HIV, and a few more. I hope that,
writing from memory, I did not leave out any important Goal.
Adopted by world leaders in the year 2000, and set to be
achieved by 2015, the Millennium Development Goals represent
the most important promise ever made to the world’s most
vulnerable people.
In June 2010, with only five years remaining to achieve the
MDGs, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon launched the MDG
Advocacy Group of eminent personalities to support him in
building political will, rallying additional support, and spurring
collective action to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
The MDG Advocacy Group is comprised of 21 individuals
who have each shown outstanding leadership in promoting and
working toward MDG achievement. MDG Advocates include
Heads of State and Government, business and political leaders,
prominent academics and philanthropists.
Under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Jose Rodrigues of
Spain, and H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of
Rwanda, the Advocates individually, collectively and in small
groups engage with Member States, civil society, academia,
parliaments, and the private sector to develop new and groundbreaking ideas and ways to accelerate MDG implementation.
Now for the MDG Report of 2011, we note that the Report is
based on a master set of data that has been compiled by an InterAgency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators led by the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United
Nations Secretariat, in response to the wishes of the General
Assembly for periodic assessment of progress towards the MDG.
The Group comprises representatives of the international
organizations whose activities include the preparation of one or
more of the series of statistical indicators that were identified as
appropriate for monitoring progress towards the MDG, as
reflected in a list given in the preamble of the Report. It may be
noted that a number of national statisticians and outside expert
advisers also contributed.
Saathee.com

For those readers interested in more details, I refer you to the
Report itself, which can be found at www.un.org. in the words
of Dr. Ban Ki-moon, “Already the MDGs have helped to lift
millions out of poverty, save lives, and ensure that children
attend schools. They have reduced maternal deaths, expanded
opportunities for women, increased access to clean water, and
freed many people from deadly and debilitating disease.”
“At the same time the Report shows that we still have a long
way to go in empowering women and girls, promoting
sustainable development, and protecting the most vulnerable
from the devastating effects of multiple crises, be they conflicts,
natural disasters, or volatility in prices for food and energy.”
“Between now and 2015,” Dr. Moon continues, “We must
make sure that promises made become promises kept. The
people of the world are watching. Too many of them are anxious,
angry and hurting. They fear for their jobs, families, futures.”
“World leaders must show that not only do they care, but that
they have the courage and conviction to act.”
Wolfensohn’s World Bank, and the Aftermath
When the G8 nations met in France, in 2003, they decided to
invite some non-members, including India, Brazil, Mexico, South
Africa and Nigeria—- all rapidly growing economies with
increasing political strength.
President Chirac of France began the meeting by inviting the
President of China, Hu Jintao, and the Prime Minister of India,
Atal Vihari Vajpayee, to address the group. After that, when
President Chirac called on Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President
of Brazil, the latter, after preliminaries, jokingly and warmly said
that he was delighted to be there but maybe it would be fitting
to meet in 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, considering the fact that soon,
only the US and Japan would be at G8 meetings and the other
members of this august group would be replaced by the invited
guests of 2003 (the BRIC nations, Brazil, Russia, India and China).
I’m quoting the above incident, related by James D.
Wolfensohn, to show how inclusive the former World Bank
President was, during his tenure. An Australian by birth,
Wolfensohn tackled global poverty with a passion and energy
that made him a uniquely important figure in a fundamental
arena of change.
Indeed, during his tenure, the World Bank, fully sixty years
old, adopted the mission statement: To fight poverty with
passion and professionalism for lasting results.”
In the words of Wolfensohn, “The World Bank remains an
extraordinarily unique establishment that nurtures growth and
development in the public and private spheres. It is, in my
judgment, one of the jewels of the international scene.”
Yet it was not always so. On June 2, 1995, his second day of
office, when Wolfensohn addressed several hundred employees
of the World Bank, there was strain and apprehension in the air.
The World Bank had come under increasing criticism in the years
gone by, and their popular leader, Lew Preston, had been
“wrenched” from them after only three years in office.
The previous day, June 1, Wolfensohn had sent the entire staff
an open letter with a simple message:
He needed their help. He wanted the Bank, while financially
responsible, to be idealistic as well. He wanted to make poverty
continued on page 118

Tidbits:
Debate:
The first of three presidential debates between Barack Obama
and Mitt Romney will take place on Wed, October 3, 2012 at the
“The most important political office is that of private citizen.” University of Denver.
– Louis Brandeis
These celebrities support:
The Green Party of the United States
Obama: George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Salma Hayek,
The Green Party of the United Kal Penn, Steven Spielberg, and Tobey Maguire.
States is a federation of state Green
Parties. Committed to ecology, social Romney: Ted Nugent, Chuck Norris, Kid Rock, Jon Voigt, Jerry
justice grassroots democracy and Bruckheimer, and Donald Trump.
non-violence, Greens are renewing
democracy in the United States
Party National Conventions
through community-based organizing without the support of
corporate donors. Whether the issue is universal health care, Green Party National Convention:
corporate globalization, alternative energy, and election reform July 12 – 15, 2012 (Baltimore, MD)
or decent, living wages for workers, Greens take on the Republican National Convention:
powerful corporate interests opposed to reform. The Federal August 27 – 30, 2012 (Tampa, FL)
Elections Commission recognizes the Green Party of the United Democratic National Convention:
States as the official Green Party National Committee. The September 3 – 6, 2012 (Charlotte, NC)
Green Party of the United States is also a member of the
Federation of Green Parties of the Americas and the Global The general election is Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Many states
Greens. The highest Green Party decision making body is the will be holding early voting. Look for the dates in future issues
Green National Committee, composed of delegates from each of Saathee.
accredited state party and caucus. Greens are grassroots
Voter Registration Deadlines:
activists, environmentalists, advocates for social justice,
nonviolent resisters and regular citizens who’ve had enough of South Carolina: October 6, 2012
corporate-dominated politics. The party devotes its attention to Georgia: October 8, 2012
establishing a national Green presence in politics and policy North Carolina: October 12, 2012
debates, while continuing to facilitate party growth and action Virginia: October 15, 2012
at the state and local level. The Green Party of the United States
Get Involved
was formed in 2001 as an outgrowth of the Association of State
Green Parties (1996-2001). The initial goal was to help existing North Carolina Democratic Party (www.ncdp.org)
state parties grow and to promote the formation of parties in North Carolina Republican Party (www.ncgop.org)
all 51 states and colonies. Helping state parties is still the Libertarian Party of North Carolina (www.lpnc.org)
North Carolina Green Party (www.ncgreenparty.org)
primary goal.
South Carolina Democratic Party (www.scdp.org)
The 2012 Green Presidential Nominating Convention will be South Carolina Republican Party (www.scgop.org)
held from July 12-15 in Baltimore, MD on the campus of South Carolina Libertarian Party (sclibertarians.net)
University of Baltimore. The candidates competing for the South Carolina Green Party (www.scgreenparty.org)
Green Party’s presidential nomination are:
Roseanne Barr http://www.roseanneforpresident2012.org
Kent Mesplay http://mesplay.org
Jill Stein http://www.jillstein.org
How will the Green nominee be chosen?
State Green Parties have been participating in primary
elections and hold statewide conventions and caucuses to
apportion delegates for the nomination, which will take place
on Saturday, July 14 at the Green Party’s 2012 National
Convention in Baltimore. During the one or more rounds of
voting by delegates, the first presidential candidate to gain
more than half of the votes will win the nomination. The 50
states, District of Columbia, and US territories have widely
varying rules for party status and ballot access, so the various
state Green Parties have their own rules for choosing delegates.
The Green Party is tracking the results of the state primaries,
conventions, and caucuses.

sepa consulting

Kirti H. Shah
certified public accountant

doing business in the carolinas since 2001.
• Year round accounting and book-keeping services.
• Payroll & sales tax along with quaterly & yearly payroll services.
• Tax preparation and planning for individuals and business.
• Financial statements review, compilation and audit.
• Assistance in new business setup.

Phone: (704) 588.0011

Fax: (704) 588.0022

kirtihshahcpa@bellsouth.net

For further details visit www.gpconvention2012.com
Saathee.com

50

10960 Winds Crossing Dr.
Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28273
July 2012

tHe BEST of JuDitH BergMan’S

SaatHee articleS Since 2008 & More!

order
now from

Lulu.com
only

$19.99

"Mastering Meaning was fun to read through and is a great resource for the
advanced English language learner." Cyndy Fettig M.a. TeSoL, eSL Specialist
Judith L. Bergman M.A., CCC-SLP
of triangle Speech Services in nc
is a corporate speech trainer and
licensed Speech and language pathologist
specilizing in foreign accent reduction.
www.TriangleSpeech.com
jlbergman@mindspring.com or 919-489-5464

For Luxurious, Memorable Vacations And Business Trip Ticketing

The Carolina’s Link To
Wholesale Airline Tickets
Serving the Carolina's for the 18th year in a row. your most
Trusted & Reliable Travel Source in the Carolina's.
Consolidator for all MAJOR AiRLiNES to india, Europe,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Middle East,Africa,Asia, the Far
East,Australia, New Zealand, Fiji & any World Wide destination.

it fully with your doctor first. If you heat a healthy diet, there is
no use to take supplements. Rich sources of this compound are
oily fish, legumes and whole grains.
Reference: Nutrition411.com
Try the following recipe to get Coenzyme Q10:
Ingredients:
1 lb cod or halibut cut in 4 portions
4 tsp mustard / 1 tbsp olive oil divided
½ cup sliced or coarsely chopped almonds
2 cloves garlic
One pound spinach
2 tbsp tomato paste
Juice of one lemon / Salt and pepper to taste

By Anjana Agarwal
Facts about Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10)
Coenzyme Q10 is a compound discovered about 50 years ago.
This compound is naturally found in our cells, with the highest
concentrations in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas.
Coenzyme Q10 is essential for energy production, muscular
contraction, and the synthesis of protein. It is also a powerful
antioxidant, responsible for damaging free radicals. Free radical
can cause harm, and are thought to contribute to the aging
process. They also lead to many diseases, including heart
disease, Parkinson and cancer. Coenzyme Q10 decreases as we
age, and also decreases in certain disease states, along with use
of some medications. Deficiency of this compound can occur due
to poor eating habits, impairment of biosynthesis, or excessive
use by the body.
Research continue to cover a range of potential benefits, but
according to the Natural Standards, which evaluate
complementary and alternative therapies, there is unclear and
inconsistent scientific evidence in humans, as much of the
encouraging research is done in labs.

Method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, spray the cooking sheet
with cooking spray. Mix lemon juice, almonds, 1 tsp oil, and salt
pepper in a small bowl. Spread mustard on each portion of fish
and pressed the equal almond mixture on each piece. Bake the
fish until opaque in the center about 8-9 minutes. Heat remaining
oil in a pan, add garlic, cook until fragrant, add tomato paste, salt
pepper to taste, add spinach cook until spinach is just wilted.
Serve the fish with spinach and lemon wedges.

Following are the some of the promising benefits of Coenzyme
Q10:
Hypertension: An analysis of studies of people with
hypertension found that CoQ10 lowered systolic blood pressure
10 to 17 points, and diastolic 8 to 10 points. Possibly by dilating
the blood vessels. The Natural Standards gives this compound
a “B” for hypertension, citing good evidence, but also needs
more studies.
Heart Condition: CoQ10 may benefit in heart conditions due to
its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and by improving
the blood vessel function. But the Natural Standard states there
is not enough evidence to recommend against its use in people
with heart disease, and that the evidence that this compound
helps treat heart failure, in particular, is unclear. Still, CoQ10 is
prescribed for certain heart diseases in many European countries
and in Japan.

DJ Hangama
DJ Service • Emcee • PA system • lighting
Make your once in a lifetime
function an unforgettable event!!!

Parkinson’s: A 2002 study found that very large dosed of CoQ10
appeared to slow the progression of early Parkinson’s disease
and improved daily life. Though the later study did not find a
benefit of CoQ10. The Natural Standard states that research and
overall evidence is promising.

Bottom Line:
The many claims for CoQ10 are overblown; Supplements may
interact with Coumadin, blood pressure medications, thyroid
drugs, and antiviral drugs. No serious side effects have been
reported with supplements, but it can cause stomach upset,
nausea, heartburn, dizziness and headaches. Its long term safety
is also unknown. There is no clear recommendation of how
much to take- adults 18 years of age and older can take 60-1200
mg daily in divided doses.
Co Q10 is best absorbed when taken with a meal containing
fat. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, or Parkinson’s
disease and are considering taking this Coenzyme Q10, discuss
Saathee.com

Hindi Remixes, Bhangra, Garba, Hip-Hop, Top 40
Our Presence at your occasion is considered an
invitation that we take very seriously

E-mail: rd@rajdesaicpa.com
Member: American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and NYSSCPA

I am committed to providing close, personal attention to
my clients. I take pride in giving you the assurance that the
personal assistance you receive comes from 15 years of my
public accounting experience including several years of Big
4 accounting firm’s advanced training, technical
experience and financial acumen. My continual investment
of time and resources in professional continuing education
and extensive business relationships is indicative of my
commitment to excellence.
Saathee.com

Helping children develop to their fullest potential through a
secure, nurturing, loving and stimulating environment.

Now enrolling and accepting applications for the fall!!
• P.T. & F.T. Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten
• Full Day Kindergarten
• First Grade

Private school recognized and in compliance
with the NC Public School system
Privately owned and operated
Low staff : child ratios
Offering programs for infant – 5 years
After school programs for 5 – 10 years
Intimate, home-like environment
Bi-lingual learning opportunities for all ages, every day
910 E. Arrowood Road • Charlotte, NC 28217

13.585 billion for the next financial year 2012-13 for the
successful execution of Thar Coal project, which includes
implementation of significant infrastructure projects and
facilities to investors to participate in the large scale projects.
The Sindh Finance Minister, Murad Ali Shah stated in his
budget speech that in light of the current energy shortages that
are being experienced by Pakistan the development of Thar
Coal has been a central policy agenda for the present
government given the vast potential of Thar Coal. Shah
indicated that the projects for development of Thar Coal are at
various stages of feasibility and financial close, which would
eventually lead to installation of over 4000 megawatts (MW) by
2015-16 and on this basis, a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) was recently executed between the Sindh government
and Global Mining Company of China (GMC). GMC has
expressed the keenness to invest around $1.5 billion on key
infrastructure projects in Thar Coalfield and the power
generation is expected to commence by 2014. Other projects
on the table include PKR 654 million includes construction of
the Islamkot Airstrip, development of GIS for Thar Coalfield,
installation of Reverse Osmosis across district Tharparkar,
Mithi and Islamakot, improvement and widening of road
network from Karachi seaport to Thar, improvement of road
from Wangomore Thar Coalfield and water carrier from
Nabisar to Thar Coalfield.
The U.S. Markets encountered some turbulence during early
June 2012 but had a very decent recovery from 6/4/20126/20/2012 to reattain key levels - the Dow traded above 12,700,
the NASDAQ Composite exceeded 2,900 and the S&P 500
traded above 1,340. The U.S. economy added only 69,000 “nonfarm” payrolls during May 2012 and the unemployment rate
dipped down to 8.2% that month; although the private sector
has gained jobs for 27 straight months, strong concerns remain
about the labor market and the durability and longevity of the
U.S. Economic Recovery. In addition to the softening labor
market, the housing market continues to be quite soft, and there
are continued concerns about the financial and political
condition of the Euro Zone. During mid-June 2012, a deal was
reached with Euro Zone finance ministers to lend weak Spanish
banks €100 million (US $125 million) to shape up their shaky
finances, however, major concerns remained about Spain even
after this deal was reached. Facebook (NASDAQ-FB) had its
famous IPO on 5/18/2012 with a lot of snafus —- and although
the stock managed to hold its offering price of $38 per share on
its maiden day of trading, the stock had a nadir of $25.52 intraday on 6/6/2012 before rebounding a bit to the $31-32/share
range. Apple (NASDAQ-AAPL) is working on a new operating
system for its iPad, iPhone and ITouch (iOs6) which shall be
coming out this fall and shall have many new significant
features, one of which will be a new mapping programs, which
shall pose a substantial challenge to Google (NASDAQGOOG). Yahoo! (NASDAQ-YHOO) and the television channel
CNBC are forming an alliance in which CNBC will be the
primary content provider for Yahoo! Finance, and this will
dramatically increase its presence on the Yahoo! Finance
website, which attracts nearly 40 million viewers per month.

By Rajesh T. Ganatra
After a strong start to CY2012 in which the Mumbai Sensex
started off the year at 15,454 and had several closes in the
18,000s during late February 2012, the index slipped below
16,000 during early June 2012 due to constant concerns about
inflation and a slowing economy, however, the Sensex
subsequently experienced a sharp rally and nearly attained
17,000 on 6/15/2012. Ever since March 2010, the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) raised India’s benchmark interest rate from
4.75% to 8.5% via a series of 13 rate increases and then on April
17, 2012, the RBI cut interest rates for the first time in three
years by 50 basis points (0.50%). The overall economic
indicators are softening, which may prompt the RBI to lower
interest rates again in the near future, possibly at its review
meeting on June 18, 2012 and if not then, definitely in July 2012.
India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Growth rate
slowed down sharply to 0.1% in April 2012 due to shrinkage
in capital goods output and lower manufacturing output. The
manufacturing sector, which contributes to over 75% of the IIP
index, barely grew 0.1% in April 2012 compared to a growth
rate of 5.7% in April 2011. Capital goods output declined by
16.3% in April 2012 compared to a growth rate of 6.6% in April
2011. Mining output contracted by 3.1% in April 2012
compared to a growth rate of 1.6% in April 2011. Power
generation witnessed a slowing growth rate of 4.6% during
April 2012, compared to a growth rate of 6.5% during April
2011. Consumer goods production showed an improved
growth rate of 5.2% in April 2012, compared to a 3.2% growth
rate in April 2011. The consumer durables segment expanded
by 5% in April 2012, compared to the 1.6% growth rate
witnessed during April 2011.
Data released during May 2012 indicated the Indian
economy expanded 5.3 percent in the January 2012-March 2012
period, which was the slowest quarterly growth figure in the
past nine years and well below the expectations of 7%+ growth
that has been the norm for some time now. The Indian Rupee
remained at historically low levels against the US$, touching
INR 55.77 to the US$ during mid-June 2012.
The Karachi KSE-100 stepped back from its recent bullish
gallop ... the index had reached 14,600 during early May 2012
which represented a near-triple off the nadir of 4,929 in late
January 2009. One of the major forces behind the substantial
advance in the market had been recent reforms and
simplification of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT). However, some
profit-taking ensued after the aggressive run, and the Pakistani
market also got caught up in the global market sell-off to settle
in the 13,500-13,600 range during mid-June 2012. Pakistan’s
trade deficit for the financial year ending June 30, 2012 is likely
to exceed $21 billion, which is in excess of 50% higher than the
estimate of $14 billion that had been set. This was a
combination of the prices of exportable commodities dropping
vs. the soaring prices of imported goods. The Pakistani Rupee
remained extremely weak and at historical lows against the
US$, reaching PKR 94.52 to the US$ during mid-June 2012 – the
PKR has even touched 96 to the US$ in “Havala” (unofficial)
dealings!
The Sindh government has allocated approximately PKR
Saathee.com

continued on page 84
rajesh T. Ganatra
Contact him at
rajeshtganatra@rocketmail.com

New Listing - Providence Pointe
Beautiful home in Providence
Pointe. 5 Bedrooms, 3 Full
Baths. Guest Bedroom/Full
Bath on Main. Gourmet
Kitchen, 2 story great room,
Huge Master Bedroom w/
spacious Master Bath. Office
w/ French Doors, Lots of
Hardwood. New Paint and New Carpet Through-out. This one is a
must see! Call For Details. $319,900

www.RealtorAnish.com
I can save you up to 50%! Call for details.
I have SOLD most of my listings and am in need of new listings.
If you are thinking of selling, please contact me!
SHORT SALE - Timberlands
Over 3,500 Sq. Ft., 5 Bedrooms,
Almost $100,000 Below Purchased
Price. OPEN FLOOR PLAN AND
HARD TO FIND MASTER DOWN.
IT HAS BOTH FORMALS, AND
GREAT KITCHEN WITH A LOTS
OF COUNTER SPACE. IT HAS 5
LARGE BEDROOMS WITH WALK-IN CLOSET ON .28 ACRE
LOT. PROPERTY IS SOLD AS IS. PRICED TO SELL! DON'T
MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY! Bank must approve the
offer. Only $159,900

Great Buying Opportunities
Amazing Short Sales and Foreclosures
available in Marvin Creek,
Ballantyne Country Club, Longview,
Brookhaven, Piper Glen,
Firethorne Country Club etc.
As much as 50-60% Below market value.
Call for the latest listings and pricing!

refinanced loan gives you a smaller tax benefit than the
previous loan you had) from your monthly savings.
Break-Even Analysis: Divide your total costs by your net
savings to determine how many months it will take to pay off
the cost of refinancing. For example, if you will save $100 a
month on the refinanced mortgage and the refinanced
mortgage costs you $3,000 it would take you two and half years
or 30 months, to break even and start enjoying the savings
accomplished by refinancing your mortgage. If you plan to
move within the next two and half years, then refinancing
might not be for you.

Should You Refinance?
By Sumeet Shah
As a real estate closing attorney, my articles are generally
about legal issues and not as much about personal finance or
business insights. However, with interest rates at historic lows,
I felt that it is imperative that I write about the analysis one
should perform to determine if the time is right for you to
refinance.
When looking to refinance, most homeowners only look at
the bottom line—the month to month savings in your
mortgage payment. But the decision to refinance depends on
many variables such as:
How long have you owned the home?
How long do you expect to stay in this home?
Has your ability to qualify for financing changed since you
took out your original loan?
Do the savings justify the cost or the hassle?
Will you incur a penalty if you pay off your current loan too
soon?

Other Costs: If your current note includes a prepayment
penalty you’ve got to factor that in as well. Some penalties can
be as high as six months interest on 80 percent of your balance,
but diminish the longer you hold the loan.
Points vs. Interest Rate: You will also need to perform a
comparison of points vs. interest rate for your new loan.
Generally, lower points (each point is 1 percent of the amount
financed) produce a higher interest rate. If you plan on staying
in your home for a few years, a zero-point loan option would
likely be a better deal because you may not have the
opportunity to recoup those costs. If you know you are staying
longer with more time to recoup costs, consider a cheaper
interest rate with points.
There is not a better time to look at your refinance options
than now. If you wanted to refinance in the past and did not
qualify, there are many new government programs that you
may qualify for now that may allow you to refinance.
Moreover, with interest rates so low you may be able to save a
lot of money in general by refinancing. Now is the time for you
to talk to your lender or other mortgage professionals about
your refinancing options. Get some references from friends,
real estate or legal professionals about various lenders and shop
around. We may not see interest rates this low ever again!

There are other reasons to refinance your old loan as well.
Perhaps you want to reach into the equity that’s built up in
your home since you bought it. In that case, you can do a
“cash-out refi” by taking out a new mortgage based on the
home’s current worth, pay off what you still owe on the old
loan and pocket the difference. Or maybe you want to shorten
the period you’ll be making payments. You can do that by
swapping your current 30-year mortgage for a 15-year loan.
With rates at historic lows, you may even be able to achieve
this with little or no increase in your monthly cash outlay.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for general
information only, and does not constitute legal, tax or other
professional advice.

Another reason to refinance might be to jump from an
adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) – where your rate changes
with market conditions – to a fixed-rate loan which offers the
certainty of set payment amounts no matter what happens to
mortgage rates in the future. Your options are practically
endless. However, what you truly save is based on how much
the new loan costs and how long you’ll be in the home.

Sumeet P. Shah
is Principal Attorney at Shah Legal Group, LLC
in Atlanta, Georgia. His areas of practice include
franchise, corporate, real estate, and estate
planning and business litigation. He can be
reached at sumeet.shah@shahlegalgroup.com
or (678) 274-9335.

Here are some things to consider in an analysis to see if there
is a cost benefit to refinance:

Business & Family Immigration Law Firm with
over two decades of collective experience
Special Counsel to the Office of the Attorney
General of VA for Immigration Matters
Seasoned lawyers in the USA and in India that
can address your legal needs!

comfortable using the sites, and visit the business pages of other
businesses you respect, big national companies, and thought
leaders like authors and speakers to see what they’re doing and
what ideas you can borrow and adapt. Don’t stress out about
it—just have fun and let the creativity flow.

By Gail Z. Martin
Your Summer Sales Advantage
Ready to throw in the (beach) towel because you expect slow
sales this summer? You could be missing a big opportunity.
Summer sends many people on vacation, but it also slows
down hectic workplaces, meaning that the people who are still
in the office may have more time for a phone call, a lunch
meeting, or an early morning coffee with you. The person
you’ve been trying to reach for months just might be available
for a conversation—and in a frame of mind to actually focus on
what you have to say.
Budgets for many companies are due in October, and the
planning and wish lists begin over the summer. This is a great
time to let your customers know if you’ve got new products,
updated equipment, or new services available. Did you miss a
sale last year because it “wasn’t in the budget”? Follow up with
your contact and offer to get them an updated quote well in
advance of this year’s budget planning.
Having a slow couple of weeks? Use that time to plan,
network on social media, create a new information product, or
get caught up on your filing, accounts receivable, or phone calls.
The more relaxed summer atmosphere can he just the thing to
stoke your creativity on a big project like a book, article series,
new speech, video or other item that’s been on your to-do list.
Summer can be a great time to invest in yourself. Take a
working vacation and attend a conference to learn new skills or
get a dose of motivation. Buy a home study course and listen
to the CDs in the car when you take a trip—or download the
MP3 audios and listen by the pool. Take time off on a beautiful
afternoon and read a business book in the park. You’ll make
good use of your “slow” period and have new skills and a
brand new can-do attitude come September.
Do a mid-year look at your goals. Have you hit your revenue
goals? Is your business where you thought it would be by the
year’s half-way point? How is your to-do list coming along?
Congratulate yourself on what’s gone well, and take a few
moments to think about where things are behind schedule.
What can you do in the remainder of the year to adjust? Where
might your plans have been a tad over-ambitious? If you need
help to assess, get it!
Prepare now for the Fall. Once Labor Day is over and the kids
are back in school, everyone gets serious about business again.
Get a jump on the competition by doing your prep work now
to have the materials, videos, presentations, web sites and other
elements ready to launch so that you can dive into the fall ahead
of the competition.
Rest and restore. No one can work at full speed forever.
You’ve earned a break, and you’ll return to work with a better
attitude, more creative ideas and a whole new level of energy if
you just give yourself permission to take some time off. Do
whatever you find more relaxing and rewarding, whether that’s
sleeping late and lounging by the pool or trekking into the
wilderness. You deserve it—and you’ll be twice as good when
you come back.
Make this the summer to finally master social media. Use
some of your slow time to play around with Facebook,
LinkedIn, Twitter, Pintrest and other sites. Make it playtime—
enjoy what you’re doing and have fun making connections. Get
Saathee.com

Prepare now for pent-up demand
While everyone is watching the bouncing ball of the Dow Jones
index, the majority of people are missing an important fact. After
lean times comes a spurt of spending due to pent-up demand.
People are paying off debt and watching pennies now, and
that’s an appropriate response. But once indicators start looking
up, the companies and individuals who have put off essential
purchases are going to start buying again. They may not start
splurging on luxuries, but the things that are difficult to live
without or do business without.
Are you getting ready?
Position yourself now while it’s slow and you have breathing
room. Use this time to rethink, rebundle, and repackage your
services and products. Big corporations have shed qualified,
educated, proficient people by the hundreds of thousands.
Many of those folks will decide life is better in the wild than on
the game preserve, and they will need the tools to survive. If you
offer coaching, consulting and professional services, they need
you in bite-sized pieces to get off to a good start.
Once the dust settles, existing companies are going to realize
that the firms that survive are the ones that keep moving
forward. You can’t grind to a halt and expect to make it. They
will continue to need professional services, work-related
products and expertise in order to compete in a new, leaner
environment.
Consumers also will continue to need essential goods and
services with a few affordable luxuries thrown in from time to
time. If you can offer a good value, they will respond.
And here’s another thing to think about—the exodus of
corporate talent into the small business pool is a great gain for
those of us already in business for ourselves. We get access to
corporate-trained experts who were previously out of our reach,
people whom we couldn’t afford to hire full time but who we
can afford piecemeal. As they become consultants, coaches and
small business owners, we can now “rent” them and reap the
benefit. This is a huge source of new ideas, best practices, and
fresh approaches. So ride the wave!
The best way we can help our neighbors and our communities
out of this slump is to keep moving forward, making cautious
investments toward the future, knowing that the upturn is the
next natural part of the cycle.
Marketing is one your best investments of time, effort and a
little cash right now. That’s because marketing keeps your name
visible as your competitors cower and fall away. If you meet a
real, urgent need, demand for your services will continue among
surviving businesses. Widen your net via online marketing to
serve a global audience.
But don’t stop fishing!
Gail Z. Martin is the author of 30 Days to Social Media Success, and the host
of the Six Figure Social Media Success virtual boot camp. Learn more about
Gail and her books at www.GailMartinMarketing.com.

Saathee Readers Forum
My Very Indian Adventure:
Nine Novel Nights
By Nirja Rakesh Parikh
“Pag pag me phool khile, khushi ap sabko itni mile, kabhi na ho dukho
ka samna, yahi he apko navratri ki subhkamna”
We all know each Hindu celebration has
a mythological legend behind the festivities.
There are many legends attached to the
conception of Navratri, as in all Indian
festivals. All of them are related to Goddess
Shakti (Hindu Mother Goddess) and her
various forms. “Nav” means “nine” and
“ratri” means “night.” Thus, “Navratri”
means “nine nights.” It is one of the most
celebrated festivals and holds special significance in the hearts
of the people. The zeal and fervor of the people with which they
indulge in festive activities of the season is enchanting.
In these nine nights, people dance the garba in a circle. The
original word is “Garbha” which means “inside” as in inside of
an earthen pot which people still use to store drinking water. The
significance of the garbha (earthen vase) dates back to when
women would carry it on their heads with a little diya (light)
burning inside of it while dancing around Ma Ambaji. This
notion was done to enhance energy and power. According to
Vedic tales, Ma Amba came to earth as symbol of shatki (power)
and successfully destroyed rakshas (demons) in nine days. The
dance symbolizes an offering to Ma Amba. The dance is
performed by rhythmic claps with women singing songs in
praise of Amba Ma. The Garba dance consists of coordinated
hand, leg, neck movements and characterized by twirls.
This past year, I was in Vadodara celebrating all the nine nights
at United Way Garba. United Way Garba has been in the
Guinness Book of World Records for the past five years. Let me
take this time to describe United Way Garba, so one can
understand why it was included in Guinness Book of World
Records. When we think of big garbas in USA, we immediately
think of New Jersey or NYC, which probably has a few thousand
participants. But can you imagine going to garba with 50,000
other people, or even more? Merely making one circle around
took approximately 30 minutes, and there were not just a few
circles, but maybe 50 different circles with coordinated and
rhythmic moves. The magic of United Way Garba is that all these
50 circles look like one big circle to the eye, that one would think
it has been pre-rehearsed with a special choreography.
It was a treat to the eye to witness this synchronization. And
you know what? I was withdrawn to this spiritual experience,
even amongst the huge crowd. United Way Garba is known
throughout the nation as the best garba celebration, and many
Bollywood stars came to celebrate navratri in Vadodara such as
Dino Morea, Bipasha Basu, Ranbir Kapoor and Dia Mirza.
People in Gujarat are so crazy about navratri that many
businesses are closed during the nine days so that everyone can
dance away at night time! In contrast to garba in America, where
one can get tickets merely by entering the hall; I had to wait five
hours in the scorching heat to get an entrance ticket!
Saathee.com

68

But that long wait was worth it! My navratri experience was
the most glamorous memory from my India trip!
Navratri in India can be compared to going to an outdoor club
each night. Here is the general flow of how the nine nights went:
My friends and I dolled up all nine nights with outfits and mixed
matched different clothes to make our own unique design. My
friends and I traveled on a scooter and what a thrilling
experience that was! I had never sat on a scooter all dressed up
in Indian clothes in my life, but I loved it; it was such a carefree
feeling with the wind blowing in my face and playing antakshree
by singing songs obnoxiously out loud.
Then, we would enter the navratri ground, where we had to
go through intense security check which really impressed me. I
was spellbound by the diligence all the participants displayed as
the security checked our purses and made us take off our shoes.
After entering the ground, we danced away our energy to the
live music. Despite being outdoors, the ground was so soft with
mud that it cushioned our feet to dance even more. Eventually,
we would rest during intermission. Intermission was a one hour
break before another one hour of garba, where people socialize,
take pictures, rest and eat tasty food from the many vendors.
Personally, intermission was my most favorite part of the night
because I got a chance to escape eating Guajarati food and try
different dishes (cheese naan became my favorite). After navratri
ends around 1am, we would all go out with our friends to
restaurants to eat even more! What a magical experience!
Basically during these nine nights, I had the chance to dance my
heart off, learn unique garba moves, dress up every day, eat
various types of junk food, ride in triples on a scooter, enjoy all
nine nights and create friendship with three amazing girls!
Before I started my nights of navratri, I was very apprehensive
and nervous because of many reasons: First off, I was aware of
the huge crowd during garba, and I was nervous that I would
get lost from my friends in the crowd. Luckily, that never
happened, but it could have because there were more than 50,000
people in the garba ground. Furthermore, everyone in Vadodara
had way more different garba moves than the basic ones I was
used to doing in USA, so I was afraid I would not be able to catch
up. Somehow, though, during the time spent dancing all nine
nights, I learned the Vadodara style and can’t wait to show them
off in USA. Lastly, the day before garba officially started, I had a
huge blister on the sole of my foot. This blister was so large that
it caused me to limp; therefore I was saddened that I would not
be able to fully enjoy garba. Miraculously, I was able to dance all
nine nights with this blister and, yes, the blister got worse but I
did not feel any pain at night while I was dancing. In fact, I felt
strength and power as I made each circle. I guess that is the
mystical power of Ma Ambaji during this season.
My message to readers out there: During my navratri
experience, I saw so many people from Europe who specifically
came to India to enjoy our Indian culture of garba. We Indians
are so lucky to have festivals such as navratri instilled in our rich
culture. Why not take advantage of our cultural festivals? If other
people can appreciate our culture, why can’t we as Indians take
a break and experience navratri in India? I assure everyone that
not only will you enjoy it, but you will have a true spiritual
journey and a chance to learn more about our culture. Personally,
I know that I do not regret taking a break and going to India
because I will never forget these cherished memories. “Go
confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have
imagined.”
If you have an interesting remembrance, essay, experience, travel story, or
other short writings you would like to share with Saathee readers, send us
an email with potential topics and samples. We will review the article get
back to you if we can use it. - Send query to saatheemag@hotmail.com
July 2012

anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods. People outside
of high-risk areas file over 20% of NFIP claims and receive onethird of disaster assistance for flooding. When it’s available,
disaster assistance is typically a loan you must repay with
interest.
By A. J. Shah
Flood Insurance
Many homeowners and business owners aren’t prepared for
the most common type of natural disaster: floods. Many
typically think flood insurance is just for people and businesses
on the coast or along the banks of a river. However, flooding
frequently occurs because of storms, heavy rains, or water main
breaks. In fact, unless you live or have a business on the top of
a mountain, just about any area is susceptible to flooding.
Heavy rains can make instant rivers where there wasn’t even
a trickle before. All it takes is for a big storm to come after the
ground is already saturated. Or you could simply read the
stories about some of the people who experienced Hurricane
Katrina and had inadequate or no flood insurance. In the
Katrina-hit area, only 1/3 of homeowners and 1/4 of businesses
carried a federal flood policy. Statistically, according to the
Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), 20
percent, or 1 in 5, of flood
claims from areas that
Unless you live or have a
have low to moderate
flood risk.
business on the top of a
By securing flood
mountain, just about any
insurance, you have the
area is susceptible to
option to protect two
types
of
insurable
flooding..
property: building and
contents. The first type
covers your building, while the latter covers your possessions;
but neither covers the land they occupy.
Flood insurance is not optional for everyone. If you live in a
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or high-risk area and have
a federally backed mortgage, your mortgage lender requires
you to have flood insurance. If during the life of the loan, the
maps are revised and the property is now in the high-risk area,
your lender should notify you that you must purchase flood
insurance.
For high risk areas of flooding, Congress has mandated
federally regulated or insured lenders to require flood
insurance on properties.

In comparison to other forms of homeowners and property
insurance, flood insurance is significantly less expensive. Part
of the reason for that is flood insurance is underwritten by the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP.) A flood protection
plan can be purchased from most independent insurance
agents, so you can probably get a policy from the same
company you regularly deal with. The NFIP is under the
administration of FEMA so rates are fairly consistent no matter
where you live in the country.
However, there are variables that apply, such as proximity to
a floodplain. If you live in a moderate-to-low risk area and are
eligible for the Preferred Risk Policy, your flood insurance
premium may be as low as $129 a year, including coverage for
your property’s contents. The closer you live to a flood zone the
higher your rate. There is one difference, the amount of
coverage. If you want to make sure you are fully covered, the
cost of your policy will depend on the extent of the coverage
you choose.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
found that 33 percent of household hold the false belief that
flood damage is covered by a standard homeowner’s policy.
FEMA states approximately 50% of low flood zone risk
borrowers think they are ineligible and cannot buy flood
insurance.
Anyone can buy flood insurance as long as their community
participates in the NFIP, even renters. Unless one lives in a
designated floodplain (high-risk) and is required under the
terms of a mortgage to purchase flood insurance, flood
insurance does not go into effect until 30 days after the policy
is first purchased.
If you are eligible, you must purchase a separate flood
insurance policy through an insurance company that
participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Flood insurance is available for residents of approximately
19,000 communities nationwide.
According to the FEMA flooding is consistently the leading
cause of property damage in the United States. Natural
disasters can’t be prevented, but you may be able to better deal
with the results if you’re prepared. Getting your affairs back in
order after a flood has disrupted your life or business may be
done in a timely manner if you carry flood insurance.
You may visit www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/ regarding
Residences and Businesses in High-Risk Areas
Homes and buildings in high-risk flood areas with mortgages flood insurance, flood zone maps, flood plain maps and flood
from federally regulated or insured lenders are required to have information. You can also contact your insurance agent or
flood insurance. These areas have a 1% or greater chance of company to find out more about federal flood insurance.
flooding in any given year, which is equivalent to a 26% chance
of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. According to the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), these claims have
averaged over $33,000 each over the past ten years, and the
average annual U.S. flood losses from 2001-2010 were more
than $2.7 billion.
a.J. Shah
is a Principal at JAG Insurance Group, in
Charlotte, NC. JAG specializes in Property &
Casualty Business Insurance and Personal
Lines Insurance. A.J. can be reached at
ajshah@jaginsurancegroup.com or
704.981.1011.

Residents and Businesses in Moderate-to-Low Risk Areas
Homes and businesses located in moderate-to-low risk areas
that have mortgages from federally regulated or insured
lenders are typically not required to have flood insurance.
However, flood insurance is highly recommended because
Saathee.com

likely to be locally produced. Good labeling practices by
retailers will indicate the manufacturer or producer of that bulk
item and whether it’s organic and/or Fair Trade Certified. For
example, the bulk products from Frontier, available in most
natural food stores and health-food departments of grocery
stores, are natural and sustainably grown. Many are certified
organic, too. (Frontier also sells its bulk products online in 1pound quantities at www.frontiercoop.com.)

Bulk bin bargains: How to make cents of buying in bulk
Does the phrase “buying in bulk” make you think of club
stores, duffel-bag-sized packages of potato chips and 5-gallon
jars of mayo? Think again. Buying in bulk isn’t just for big
families or those with a lot of storage space. It’s for anyone who
wants to save money. What’s the secret? “Bulk” refers to how
the store offers the product, not how much you have to buy.
You can purchase a pinch or a pound - however much you need
- and save yourself money while reducing packaging waste.
The idea that you have to buy large quantities is one of the
misperceptions about buying bulk. Ellen Bouchard, bulk
manager at Frontier Natural Products Co-op, describes and
dispels the following common bulk-food myths and provides
shopping tips for consumers.

Myth No. 4: The bulk selection is limited.
Another misconception. Some products you’ll likely find in the
bulk aisle: beans, flours, grains, nuts and seeds, cereals, herbs
and spices, pastas, teas and coffees, and household and toiletry
items such as laundry detergent and soaps.
Myth No. 5: Bulk products are low quality.
False. Bulk products are most often of equal or higher quality
than their packaged counterparts. Many exotic and gourmet
items are only available in bulk, as are some Fair Trade Certified
and certified organic products. For example, do you know how
many types of cinnamon exist? In some bulk spice aisles, you
can find multiple varieties of cinnamon, ranging from
traditional Korintje (3 percent oil) to premium Vietnamese (5
percent oil) to Ceylon cinnamon from Sri Lanka.
Tips for buying in bulk
* Before you go shopping, look in your cupboards to see which
items you usually purchase in packages or cans that you can
now purchase in the bulk aisle. Glass is safer than plastics for
food storage, so you might want to buy some airtight glass jars
in various sizes.
* Explore the store’s bulk section a bit, trying one or two new
items each visit.
* When filling your containers, use the scoops or the dispensers
provided. Take your time and be neat, but if you spill
something, there’s no need to panic. Just ask a staff person for
help in cleaning it up.

Myth No. 1: You must buy in large quantities to buy bulk.
False. In fact, bulk offers an easy and economical way to expand
your food horizons by letting you try small amounts of * Most stores will have you write down the item number and
unfamiliar products. You can buy just a pinch of the exotic spice price of the item (from the bin) before you take your selections
or a cup of the unfamiliar grain called for in a recipe. Or you to the register.
might purchase small quantities of a number of spices and
seasonings or spice blends, such as garam masala, to
experiment with a new ethnic cuisine. If you think you might
Courtesy of ARAContent.com
like to try something new, buying in bulk enables you to
purchase a small quantity without worrying about wasting
money.

Neeta’s BeautyParlor

Myth No. 2: It’s wasteful to buy in bulk.
Quite the opposite, because you can buy just the amount you
need. Keep in mind that prices for bulk products are
considerably lower than the packaged versions, and the full
amount of your purchase goes toward the product, not
packaging or advertising. In addition, manufacturing that
package wastes energy and resources. So when you buy in bulk
and reuse storage containers, it’s a positive contribution to the
planet’s health.

Near Hindu Center
Open 7 Days A Week
(Charlotte, NC)
Call For Appointment

Myth No. 3: It’s hard to know what’s in those bins and if it’s
fresh.
Again, not true - bulk foods are often of higher quality, fresher,
and more natural than packaged products. They’re also more
Saathee.com

2010 date that was in effect prior to the dramatic retrogression
of the date to August 15, 2007 in the May 2012 Visa Bulletin.
Strategies for Employees Impacted by Visa Unavailability
and Retrogression
Strategies for Employment-Based Visas despite Visa
Unavailability for Indian and Chinese EB-2 Applicants
By Lakshmi Challa
The Department of State (DOS) recently announced that the
new immigrant visa numbers for Indian and Chinese EB-2
applicants have been exhausted. The June 2012 Visa Bulletin will
reflect a “U,” signifying that these visas are “Unavailable.” This
means that the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) will not be issuing any Green Cards for Indian
and Chinese nationals for the EB-2 preference until the
beginning of the next fiscal year starting this October 1, 2012.
The DOS issued the following statement regarding this
unavailability: “Despite the retrogression of the China and India
Employment Second preference cut-off date to August 15, 2007,
demand for numbers by applicants with priority dates earlier
than that date remained excessive.”
The DOS further explained that this increased demand for EB2 visas was due to a large number of petitions originally filed
under the EB-3 preference which have since “ported” or
upgraded to the EB-2 preference category. Recall, the EB-3
preference category is for skilled workers, professionals, and
other workers. This preference category encompasses
immigrants who possess at least a baccalaureate degree or at
least two years of training or experience. On the other hand, the
EB-2 preference category is for professionals holding at least an
advanced degree or foreign nationals of exceptional ability. As
such, an immigrant who has filed a petition originally under the
EB-3 category but subsequently acquires an advanced degree
can “port” or upgrade their EB-3 petition to the EB-2 category
while retaining the priority date of their already filed EB-3
petition.
Although USCIS could not pinpoint the exact number of such
“upgrades,” it maintains that the continued availability of the
EB-2 preference numbers for countries other than India and
China are being substantially jeopardized. Therefore, USCIS
designated the India and China EB-2 preference category
“Unavailable” for the remainder of the fiscal year. Visa numbers
will once again be available for Indian and Chinese nationals
under the EB-2 preference category beginning October 1, 2012
under the 2013 fiscal year visa numbers.
What is the effect of this DOS announcement on USCIS
procedures? This announcement means that DOS will be unable
to give EB-2 visas to USCIS service centers and field offices to
approve pending EB-2 adjustment of status (I-485) applications
from Indian and Chinese applicants. Instead, requests from
USCIS for visas in the India and China EB-2 category will be put
on hold by DOS to be authorized at the beginning of the next
fiscal year.
In the meantime, USCIS confirmed that it continued to accept
and process adjustment of status applications for EB-2 Indian
and Chinese applicants if their priority date was within the EB2 cutoff dates established in the April and May 2012 Visa
Bulletins and their petition was filed before June 2012.
Furthermore, USCIS has stated it will make every effort to return
the India and China EB-2 preference cut-off date to the May 1,
Saathee.com

Quick Overview of Immigration Process
Before we can explain the strategies available to people
impacted by visa unavailability and retrogression, it helps to
understand some of the basic terms and procedures involve in
filing an employment-based immigrant petition.
For the EB-3 and EB-2 preference categories, the first step in
starting your visa application is submitting a request for Labor
Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The
Labor Certification is the process of proving that there are no
qualified American workers for the position being offered. The
date the application of Labor Certification is received by the
DOL is your “priority date.” Your priority date is extremely
important because it represents your place in the waiting line
for an available visa. Once the Labor Certification is issued, you
can move on to filing your employment-based permanent
residency application (Form I-140) with USCIS.
For EB-2 petitions involving a National Interest Waiver or
Schedule A professions, your priority date is the date USCIS
receives your I-140 application.
Therefore, filing your
employment-based immigration petition or requesting the
Labor Certification is necessary to establish that all-important
priority date which protects your place in line.
Note that once the I-140 petition is approved by USCIS, this
approval only means you are eligible for a visa. The approval
of the I-140 does not itself grant you a visa or lawful immigrant
status. Only when your priority date is “current”, meaning you
have reached the front of the line for a visa, you may adjust your
status by filing a Form I-485. Once your adjustment of status
application is approved by USCIS, then you will be granted
permanent residence status and issued a “Green Card.”
Strategy 1: File Early
Even though visa numbers for your preference category may
be unavailable, starting and filing your employment-based
immigration petition (I-140) earlier rather than later has
substantial advantages. A visa number does not have to be
immediately available for you to file your I-140 application. The
I-140 petition can be filed at any time. Once approved by USCIS,
the petition merely “waits in line” until a visa number is
available. Then, when a visa number is available, you can file
for adjustment of status (I-485) which, as stated above, adjusts
your status to that of a legal permanent resident.
As for potential immigrant applicants who fall under
preference categories that have available visa numbers, you too
should start your petition and file as soon as possible. When
visas are available in your category now, it means you can file
the I-140 and the I-485 adjustment of status at the same time.
Once the I-485 is filed and pending, even if the cut-off dates later
retrogresses, while your I-485 is pending, you will still receive
the benefits of getting approved work authorization (work
permit) and approved travel documentation which allows you
to travel freely in and out of the United States.
Strategy 2: Know Your Options
Oftentimes, potential immigrants will qualify under more
than one employment-based immigrant preference category.
For example, an applicant with an advanced degree filing under

We Specialize in: Individual & Business taxes • Accounting & Payroll
New company incorporations • Tax filing for all - including H-1 & L-1
visa holders W-7's and Tax ID's for IT consultants • Internal audit &
SOX Compliance • Business set-up and support in India
Filing Available for All 50 States
Free E-Filing
Over 20 years of experience
Serving the entire Southeast

Anil Bedi

FREE, no obligation consultation!
Saathee.com

FCA, CPA
77

July 2012

Visit ragamala.net for more information about Ragamala. For
full details about the American Dance Festival, visit
americandancefestival.org. Sample video clips, ticketing
surrender to the beauty of this sacred Earth that has been given information, schedule (including select performances that
to us to safeguard, cherish, and pass on to future generations. include a post-performance discussion with the dancers –
highly recommended!), and more are readily available in an
Dilip: Can you hint at what audiences can expect in Sacred easily navigable website. American Dance Festival is a treat for
Earth?
the eyes, mind, and soul.
Ranee: I invite your readers to come out and fully experience
it! Aparna and I choreographed this piece. Five dancers, Note: American Dance Festival logo and photographs courtesy of
including Ashwini, start with a ritual meant to be evocative of American Dance Festival. Images of Ragamala Dance by
kolam creation, white rice flour floating from their hands as photographers Ed Bock and Hub Willson and provided courtesy of
they slowly walk. I invoke the Goddess, unifying the heavens Ragamala Dance. All images are used with permission.
with Earth. Story-telling; drumming, violin, and vocals by four
accompanying South Indian musicians; and, of course, the six
Immigration Matters
dancers led by Aparna propel the piece forward.
continued from page 76

American Dance Festival
continued from page 12

Dilip: The kolam offerings illustrate how the quotidian can be
a contemplative bridge to the sacred, as clearly you are trying
to do with the dance. Why did you pick that specific practice,
and what unity did you find in working with that, as well as
Warli paintings and Sangam poetry?
Ranee: It is a practice that I grew up in South India watching,
learning, this ritual of creating a sacred space, offering back to
the Earth for what we have received, and an announcement to
the public of the happenings inside a home. Large designs
suggested a celebration, small designs were permitted, and an
absence of a kolam indicated that the lady of the house was not
well. Ten days of no kolams showed mourning due to death.
Also, we do the kolams to invoke Lakshmi, the goddess of
prosperity. She permanently resides in Vishnu’s heart. We
created the kolams on the Earth (known as Bhooma Devi,
whom Vishnu rescued from under the ocean and placed on his
shoulder). They are inseparable. If we seek prosperity we need
to respect the Earth. The Warli people live one with nature, their
paintings reflecting the activities of their everyday lives. The
Sangam literature of classical South India describes the land as
five tinais or landscapes, and their poems describe this land,
their fauna and flora, the people who live there, and their
emotions. These are essentially love poems, which are very
abstract with no names of people but only their emotional
conditions. In Bharatanatyam, love is the most predominant
emotion that brings all other emotions to the fore. The
symbolism is of the woman as human soul wanting to unite
with the Divine, or the man in her life. Together they represent
Lakshmi and Vishnu. These are our inspirations.
Dilip: Do you have any advice for children and teenagers who
are learning dance - any kind of dance, be it Bharatanatayam,
jazz, ballet, or other? I am specifically thinking that in the
diaspora, there often is a pressure to strive for a career in fields
such as in the sciences, engineering, or medicine. If one truly
enjoys dance and is told that one has some talent, what options
might one consider pursuing?
Ranee: No matter what you pursue, try to be the best at it.
Work hard and put more than 100 percent of your efforts
towards it. In this country, there are so many opportunities to
learn and succeed. If dance is what you love and if you are truly
good at it, “follow your bliss”, as Joseph Campbell said.
Dilip: Thanks to you and the ensemble for your time today and
for being such a creative and compelling exponent of the
classical Indian arts.

Saathee.com

the EB-2 category may also be a business investor in which case,
he or she could also apply for permanent residency under the
EB-5 Investor visa category. There is also the EB-4 preference
category which allows applicants in certain professions, such as
Religious Workers, Broadcasters, and Physicians, to apply for
permanent residency. The priority date for the EB-5 and EB-4
categories generally remain current throughout the fiscal year.
In other words, visa numbers are almost always available for
applicants filing under EB-5 and EB-4. As such, it is important
to know your options when it comes to which preference
categories you could potentially file under. If visa numbers are
unavailable for the EB-2 and EB-3 preference categories, there is
a chance you might be eligible to file your petition under
another preference category where visa numbers are available,
avoiding the lengthy wait in line for a green card.
Strategy 3: Keep Up with Changing Times
Lastly, it is important to keep USCIS updated with any
significant life changes that could result in an “upgrade” in your
preference category. As stated earlier, an immigrant who has
filed a petition under the EB-3 category who subsequently earns
an advanced degree can port their petition to the EB-2 category
and retain the benefits from the earlier priority date of the
already filed EB-3 petition. Therefore, it is essential that you
review your status periodically to determine whether your
current status qualifies you to port to higher preference
category.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, just because the priority date for your
preference category is not current and a visa is not available does
not mean you should do nothing and delay filing an immigrant
petition. The more advantageous thing to do is to start the
process of putting together a strong application and have the
application filed as soon as possible. Additionally, as you start
gathering information for your petition, you might also discover
that you are eligible to file under another preference category
where visa numbers are available.
The longer you delay your filing, the longer you will have to
wait to receive your green card. On the other hand, if you go
ahead and file now, you will have less time to wait later, when
a green card does become available. This is because when the
new visa numbers are released for the next fiscal year, and other
immigrant applicants decide to start their filing, your petition
will already be in line waiting, in front of all the others.
Contact Lakshmi Challa at info@challalaw.com
www.challalaw.com
78

Why did it all go south? Following the disastrous rollback of
the move to open the market to retailers like Walmart and
Carrefour in December, Indian business leaders and global
investors were hoping for an investment-friendly budget in
March, if not some measures to reduce the fiscal deficit.
Instead, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee formulated new
tax rules that made India even less attractive for investors. With
the General Anti Avoidance Rule, he sought to tax investments
routed through Mauritius and other tax havens — a move that
made India a less attractive destination for foreign capital by
reducing prospective returns.
And he proposed a retrospective amendment to the tax laws
that circumvents a recent Supreme Court ruling and will force
Vodafone to pay some $3.5 billion in taxes and penalties
associated with its 2007 acquisition of Hutch Telecom.
Though implementation of the General Anti Avoidance Rule
has been delayed until 2013, the message sent to foreign
institutional investors, as well as companies seeking to make
acquisitions or other direct investments in India, was that the
rules could be rewritten at any time.

to $1.2 billion, hardly enough to finance three weeks of oil and
other imports. Today the central bank has around $290 billion
in reserves to play with.
But the bad news is that a substantial dip in those much
larger reserves could still have dramatic effects, said
Panandiker. “If it starts unloading the reserves, that can create
a kind of panic situation,” Panandiker said. “If the outflow is
about $10 billion, then this kind of crisis situation comes.”
According to Crisil’s Joshi, the central bank has wisely stuck
to the sidelines so far, as intervening and failing could be far
worse than letting the rupee find its own bottom. But nobody
can predict what might happen in the future.
“It’s like going to a doctor. He can tell you that your blood
pressure is rising, your sugar levels are dangerous, and you
probably are getting clots in your arteries, but he can’t tell you
exactly when the heart attack will happen,” Joshi said. “With
the economy, the parameters are becoming worse, just like the
patient I was talking about. When will it translate into a heart
attack [like 1991]? I don’t think anybody can say.”
One thing is clear, though: It’s time for the patient to make
some lifestyle changes — which is exactly what Singh has
prescribed.

Books

continued from page 40

Stasis or crisis?
With the most pessimistic analysts predicting that the rupee
could fall as low as 60 before Singh’s move to hike petrol prices,
the danger was growing that stasis would spin into crisis. So
far experts agree with the finance minister that it’s too early to
press “the panic button.” But because perception can be as
important as hard economic data in determining the flow of
investment, the tipping point is impossible to predict.
“A panic comes when there is a substantial outflow of foreign
money — what is called hot money,” said Panandiker. “If
foreign institutional investors sell here to take money out, what
happens is that there’s a crash in the share market, and the
money going out will result in a fall in the value of the rupee.”
The result is a vicious cycle. The more the rupee drops, the
riskier investing in India becomes, because the risk of currency
depreciation compounds the risk of a drop in share prices.
So at some point, the further the rupee drops, the more
money foreign investors pull out of India, and the more money
investors pull out, the further the rupee drops. The only thing
the central bank can do then is to intervene directly to buy
rupees and try to prop up the currency’s value to break the
cycle. But there’s a limit to how much the Reserve Bank of India
can spend.
“We are running a high current account deficit, and that
situation is not likely to be corrected very soon,” said
Dharmakirti Joshi, chief economist at credit ratings agency
Crisil, the Indian arm of Standard & Poor’s. “If the European
problems are contained, we might be able to get financing for
our current account deficit. But if the euro zone problems
increase, there’s an issue of insufficient financing and then
again pressure on the rupee.” (A high current account deficit,
largely due to a poor balance of trade stemming from high oil
prices, was primarily responsible for the economic crisis of
1991.) The good news — and the reason most analysts remain
guardedly optimistic that India can get back on track — is
India’s central bank has much more in its kitty today than it had
in 1991.
Prior to the 1991 balance of payments crisis, which spurred
the liberalization of the economy responsible for India’s rapid
economic growth, the country’s forex reserves had dwindled
Saathee.com

“The Legend of Pradeep Mathew” isn’t necessarily written
for cricket fans, as the narrator states:
“If you’ve never seen a cricket match; if you have and it has
made you snore; if you can’t understand why anyone would
watch, let alone obsess over this dull game, then this is the book
for you.”
That being said, an understanding of the sport can only help
while reading it. I’ll admit there were times I was completely
lost, though Karunatilaka does an excellent job explaining as
much as he can without being repetitive. He weaves in Sri
Lankan history with the cricket, and this is where the novel
really shines. It’s smart and well-written; readers will close the
book with a newfound understanding of cricket and Sri Lankan
history, politics, and the current issues the country faces.
In the end, “The Legend of Pradeep Mathew” is a genius of
a book with a powerful twist at the end that will leave readers
with dropped jaws. The novel is not exactly what you think of
when you hear the term “South Asian literature”; it’s not tragic
or heavy. In fact, it’s actually very funny, full of unique and
well-developed primary and secondary characters that will
stick with the reader long after the last pages are turned. It’s a
story of real life, of love and obsession, of history and culture,
and it’s an amazing thing to behold.

Boy or Girl? (All the way from A to Z)
GENDER PLANNING BEFORE PREGNANCy: We are the first to discover & prove this
new concept. Whereas gender is ‘determined’ by sperm, it is ‘influenced’ by hormones
in the uterus at the time of conception. In one cycle, the uterus is ready for boy conception
and in other, for girl. By testing urine for two consecutive cycles, we guide you in which
cycle to conceive so as to get the baby of your dream naturally. Four out of five couples
are getting it. Please read every word under “PreGender Test” at our website. Have
your physician call us to discuss it because they will have to know it anyway. Worldwide
patents are pending.
GENDER DETECTION AFTER PREGNANCy: We can find the gender of the baby as
soon as you can detect pregnancy. This is the earliest gender test in the world.
All tests are done on urine samples, sent by mail. No need to travel.
Call or email to get the sample collection & shipping method.

Events of Note
Bhakti Rasamrita Swami
Charlotte Bhakti Yoga presents Bhakti
Rasamrita Swami on Monday, July 23,
2012, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Vivek Hall,
Hindu Center located at 7400 City View
Drive, Charlotte, NC 28212. Swamiji is a
charismatic monk from a Vedic monastery
in India. He is instrumental in introducing Vedic philosophy to
students of reputed educational institutions across India and
other parts of world. He has been spreading “Essence of
Bhagavad Gita” to followers worldwide. The discussion will be
followed by a free vegetarian dinner. For further details and
RSVP write to CLTBhaktiYoga@gmail.com.
Super Seniors Group Savan Ka Mahina Trip
The Super Seniors Group of Charlotte is organizing a 2-day trip
to Savannah, GA on July 25 – 26, 2012. The groupo will leave
the Hindu Center of Charlotte on July 26 at 6 am and return the
following day in the evening. The cost is $100 per person and
includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and hotel accommodations.
The trip will cover the temple in Columbia, SC, temple in
Savannah, Swami Narayan temple, boat ride in Savannah,
boardwalk, sightseeing and shopping. For further details call
Bina Bhojwani (704.334.2462), Jaya Shah (704.543.1981), or
Deepak Jadeja (704.819.9814).

two decades in the financial services and
investments, Awasthi has gained expertise in a
diverse set of asset classes and industries, and
has enjoyed living and working in some of the
world’s most dynamic financial centers
including Mumbai, New York, Singapore and
Tokyo. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in
Economics from the St. Xavier’s College,
Mumbai, and Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the
Indian Institute of Management, Amdavad and an MBA from
Tulane University, New Orleans. He has lived in Raleigh for
the past six years with his wife Monica and their three children
Neil, Sheila and Eva. Dalip and Monica are on the Board of
Pratham, Raleigh Chapter and devote their time to various
other charities and causes. Awasthi can be contacted at
dalip.awasthi@yahoo.com.
Governor of North Carolina Beverly Purdue
has appointed Piyush Patel, a resident of Cary,
NC, to serve as a member of UNC Asheville
Board of Trustees. Patel is a technology
professional with 25+ years of experience with
prominent companies like IBM and Qualcomm
in various capacities. He holds 27 patents and
is involved in many civic organizations in triangle community
including Share and Care foundation. As a Trustee, he will be
advising the Board of Governors on matters pertaining to the
university, the Chancellor concerning management and
development of the institution. He earned a bachelor’s degree
in electrical engineering from S.P. University, Gujarat and a
post graduate degree in electrical engineering from New Jersey
Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ. Patel has lived in Cary,
NC for past 17 years with his wife Sulbha and their two
children. Contact him at piyush@thepatelfamily.org.

Kuchipudi Dance Ballet
Indian Classical Music and Dance Society
(ICMDS) in collaboration with Sai Krishna
Bhavan presents the Kuchipudi Dance
Ballet: “Mahishasura Mardini” by Natya
Kala Ratna, NatyAcharya: Sri Pasumarthi
Venkateswara Sarma & Troupe. The
Community Reports:
performance will take place on Saturday,
August 11, 2012 at 6pm at the Green Hope
Rupal Shah Receives Harvard Hero Award
High School, Cary, NC. Sri Pasumarthi
Rupal Shah, originally from Moshi,
Venkateswara Sarma is a well-known artist, teacher, and
Tanzania, and living in Clemson, SC
choreographer. Inspired by the ideas of his Guru Padmasri Dr.
since 1999, was recently awarded a
Vempati China Satyam, he has choreographed various popular
“Harvard
Heroes” award. Shah attended
ballets and played various leading roles. In addition, he has
Southern Wesleyan University in
played many roles in dance dramas choreographed by his
Central, SC, and after graduating in 2004
Guru. In 1980, he started teaching dance at his school Sri Bala
with a BS in Biology and BA in
Tripura Sundari Kuchipudi Natya Kalakshetram. Pasumarthy
Chemistry,
received her MS degree in
is known for his enthusiasm and deep interest in the field of
Microbiology from Clemson in 2007. She
dance. He lives the characters that he portrays in his ballets.
has been working at Harvard University
This dance drama “Mahishasura Mardini” has a script, songs,
since
2007 and is now the Tuberculosis
direction, and the main role of Mahishasura is performed by
Research
Laboratory
manager.
She was nominated for the
Pasumarthy Venkateswara Sarma is stunning. For further
Harvard Heroes award by laboratory mates and colleagues in
details visit www.icmds.org.
May and received the award at a ceremony on June 5, 2012. The
Harvard Heroes Award is designed to recognize “above and
Community News:
beyond” achievement among Harvard’s staff. This year the
Harvard Heroes program is a University-wide program. It is
NC Governor Purdue’s Recent Indian-American Appointees also part of the 375 Year Celebration of Harvard University. The
Dalip Awasthi was appointed to the North Carolina State criteria for nomination and selection were set by a UniversityBanking Commission by Gov. Beverly Perdue of NC. With over wide advisory committee. Only a few individuals from over
Saathee.com

grossing films, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. “Aheli” is the
autobiography of Maitree Devi and the show depicts a dramatic
love triangle based on all arrays of emotions. Over 120 dancers,
ranging from as young as five, participated in the evening’s
goal to bring awareness to the horrific social problem of sextrafficking and to raise proceeds for children and women that
need rehabilitation. Weddington Elementary School teacher Jill
Helms exclaimed, “It is amazing to me that there were so many
dancers and the staging was so well-choreographed. The story
was beautifully told through dance!” Many who attended the
show, including Michele Twomey and her family praised, “The
show helped such an important cause and we are so glad that
we could be a part of.” Mukherjee presented several styles of
Indian dance including her specialties of Kathak, Bollyood and
fusion. Proceeds from the evening will go Maiti Nepal, an
organization that rescues and rehabilitates young, sexually
trafficked girls in the India-Nepal area. Started by Anuradha
Koirala, it has grown steadily and was recently featured in
“CNN Presents.” Koirala was also recognized as part of the
CNN “100 Influential People.” Mukherjee and her students
have raised proceeds for the Maiti Nepal Charitable Trust for
two years in a row. Prominent Charlotte-area piano instructor
Diane Higgins had this to say: “Thank you so much for inviting
my husband and me to your beautiful Indian performance…
We were extremely impressed with the artistry and precision
of the dancers, and their beautiful costumes…What a
memorable evening of an intriguing cultural experience!” For
further details on Nrityangan Cultural Academy contact Ritu
Mukherjee at ritusdance@gmail.com.

12,000 Harvard staff were selected as Harvard Heroes in 2012.
Shah was among those chosen for the award and received it
from Harvard President Drew Faust. “I am personally honored
to receive this award. It is the highest honor given to a staff
member at Harvard University and I am humbled to receive it.
My work at Harvard University has taught me a lot, including
the value of basic science research especially in the field of
Infectious Diseases. I have grown a lot since I came to Harvard
in 2007 and I look forward to learning more,” Shah said.

Stock Tickers

continued from page 56

The US Dollar held steady against most major foreign
currencies but gained a bit ground against the Euro and British
Pound – during mid-May 2012, €1 equaled $1.25-$1.26
(compared with $1.32-$1.33 a few months ago) and £1 equalled
$1.59-$1.60 (compared with $1.61-$1.62 a few months ago). The
US$ was at even-exchange levels against the Canadian Dollar
and remained below par against the Australian Dollar and the
Swiss Franc. During mid-June 2012, Crude Oil hovered around
$85 per barrel due to anticipated lower global demand. During
mid-June 2012, Gold was hovering around $1,580-$1,590 per
ounce and Silver was trading around $28.00-$29.00 per ounce.
There are eight meetings of the Federal Reserve Board every
year and there have been four meetings so far in CY2012:
January 24-25, March 13, April 24-25 and June 19-20. No moves
on interest rates were made at those meetings and the
remaining four meetings will be held as follows: July 31,
September 12, October 23-24 and December 11. From the
comments released by the Fed subsequent to the meetings, it
appears that interest rates will be held at the current historical
low levels for some time to come, most likely throughout
CY2013 and into CY2014 due to the continued challenging
economic conditions. In August 2011, the USA lost its coveted
‘AAA’ rating and was downgraded to ‘AA+’. During June 2012,
Standard & Poor (S&P) warned that the reasons for the
Nrityangan’s Annual Dance Recital and Fundraiser
downgrade are indeed persisting, and even getting worse. If
By Delia Patel
the USA does not get its political gridlock sorted out and debt
The Nrityangan Cultural Academy showcased its annual dance situation under control, then the country may be dealt another
recital and fundraiser on June 8, 2012 at the Elevation Church downgrade in the near future.
in Charlotte, NC. The evening drew more than 950 attendees
and the academy raised over $12,000 for the Maiti Nepal Special Note: This article contains the ideas and thoughts of its author
Charitable Trust. Artistic director and teacher Ritu Mukherjee and it does not necessarily imply the viewpoints of “Saathee”
presented Aheli, a dance drama based on one of India’s highest magazine or its principals.
Saathee.com

84

July 2012

Sonu Nigam Performs in Raleigh
One of the most expressive and emotive singers in all of music
performed on June 1, 2012 in Raleigh, NC. Sonu Nigam floated
his voice over the stage. And there was no turning back. He
sang mostly newer songs and didn’t do many covers of classics.
But the audience didn’t seem to mind. And his band was tight
and knew their way around the songs.
One complaint. The introduction for Sonu Nigam was a long
video. A looong video. The self-promotion was a bit much,
especially because all in attendance already knew and loved
Sonu Nigam. They didn’t really need what seemed like a 15minute video extolling Nigam’s talents and his musical history,
all his awards and projects.
But that’s a minor complaint because as soon as he started
singing, that voice, that voice that can swing between several
octaves, all complaints disappeared.
Along with the songs, Nigam prsented a hilarious segment
where he sang about everyday vegetables – aloo, gobi – in
different singers’ voices and styles.
Of course at the end of the show as people were walking to
their cars, a few did complain. They complained that he didn’t
do many older songs. He didn’t sing their favorite song. When
you have someone like Sonu Nigam, a performer with dozens
if not hundreds of hits, it is simply not possible to sing all the
songs. It is not possible to please everyone.
The concert was presented by NCIAP Medical Care, and
organized by Arvind Mahajan of Livespectrum Entertainment
for raising funds for the non-profit NCIAP clinic for helping
uninsured people at very low fee. This clinic is at 5720
Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh NC 27612 and is open Mon – Fri from
9 – 5 pm. For details visit www.nciap.org. NCIAP medical care
was able to raise more than $50,000 for clinic.
Also, a part of the program leading up to the concert a “Taal
Pe Taa”l - A NC State-wide Singing Competition was organized
by Livespectrum Entertainment supported by NCIAP Medical
Care Clinic to promote and find the best singing talent in NC.
It was judged by renowned professionals in the music field:
Kenz Desai, Kirit Shukla, Swati Kanitkar, Madhumita Saha, and
Poonam Sirohi.
Winners were declared by Sonu Nigam. They were awarded
on June 1st at concert and the winner sang at the concert as well.
First place winner was Manjit Singh, Second was Sampada
Agarwal and third was Jaisal Amin.
The first round of the competition was held on May 6 at
Griffith Auditorium in Duke University. There were 75
participants who registered for the first round. The second
round was held at Stewart Theater in NC State University on
May 20. There was an audience of more than 700 people in both
rounds combined.
For further details on future shows and competitions visit
www.livespectrum.com.
Saathee.com

86

July 2012

A wide range of South Indian,
North Indian, Indo Chinese,
Chaats, Jain, and more

The Chiropractic Doctors at ChiroCarolina have been helping
people in Charlotte for over 30 years. During that time we've
helped thousands of patients find relief from debilitating pain.
The secret to our success?
Compassion • Attention • Professionalism
Dr. Ferzaan A. Ali

Charlotte
Art of Living (Healing with the Breath)
Art of Living is dedicated to serving society by strengthening
the individual. This is done through self development
programs that recharge the body, mind and spirit and allow
people to function at their optimum potential. People from all
backgrounds, religions and cultural traditions come together
in service and celebration.
For Further Details:
980-216-8732
charlotte@us.artofliving.org
www.artofliving.org or www.artofliving.org/charlotte

Charlotte Gita Study Group
Beginners and advanced students of the Gita are welcome. The
group meets the second and fourth Sunday of each month from
3 - 5 pm. This course is based on the Home Study Course of the
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg, PA. Each session starts
with a meditation followed by a recorded lecture in English,
supplemented by discussion among the group.
For further details:
Rishi and Shikha Bhatnagar, rishi@solveron.com, 513.518.5300
Shridhar and Kruti Dave, skdave@hotmail.com, 704.844.9567
Naras and Beena Eechambadi, narasee@gmail.com
www.freewebs.com/gitastudy

Charlotte Hindu Center Table Tennis
The group meets every Monday and Wednesday from 6.30 - 10
pm. New players come after 7.30 pm for orientation. The TT
action takes place at the Vihar Hall of Charlotte’s Hindu
Center, 7400 City View Drive , Charlotte, NC 28134. All levels
and types of play. Free coaching and lessons. For further
details: s_jan@yahoo.com or visit www.ttclt.com.

Charlotte Indian Karaoke Group
CIKG invites karaoke lovers to come and sing Hindi songs on
karaoke. It does not matter whether you are a beginner or
experienced. The most important thing is to get together and
have fun. The event is held once a month, usually on Friday
or Saturday. Entry and participation is free.
For Further Details: Dinesh Patel at cikgrocks@yahoo.com
Charlotte Kannada Koota
The Charlotte Kannada Koota is an organization that promotes
understanding of Karnataka culture and provides a medium
for people of Karnataka (Kannadigas) to get together. The
activities include social get-togethers, music, and drama.
For Further Details:
704.526.9990 (Appan Patil), agm_patil@hotmail.com
704.281.8732 (Raj Kulgod), kraj7@yahoo.com

Charlotte Kriya Yoga Group
Charlotte Kriya Yoga Group Promotes Kriya Yoga Meditation
practices as taught by lineage of realized masters such as
Mahaavatar Baba Ji, Lahri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteshwar Giri,
Paramahamsa
Yogananda,
Hariharananda,
and
Prajanananada. A sincere seeker who follows the path of Kriya
Yoga with love and devotion and a desire for spiritual growth
can attain Self-realization- even in one lifetime.Center hosts
two annual initiation programs and a weekly Sunday
meditation for initiates.
For Further Details:
Agupta1@Carolina.rr.com
www.kriya.org

the Tamil language, arts and culture. For Further Details:
Lakshmanan Krishnan (lakshmanank@hotmail.com) or visit
www.cltts.org
Charlotte Telangana Association
Charlotte Telangana Assoc was formed to promote Telangana
cultural activities within greater Charlotte area and also bring
together all the Telangana people living in the area to discuss,
plan, and take action around the development of Telangana
focusing both on rural and urban Telangana areas. “CTA” will
also actively engage in educating private, public and non-profit
organizations about the great resources that Telangana has for
business activities, political climate of Telangana reason.
For Further Details:
www.charlottetelangana.com

Hindu Center of Charlotte
The Hindu Center is located at 7400 City View Drive, Charlotte,
North Carolina 28212.
Temple Phone: 704.535.3440.
The library is stocked with books, CDs, DVDs and other
materials on varied genre such as religion, culture, history,
philosophy, yoga and health. Library info: 704.554.0765.
Children’s Religious Oriented Program (C.R.O.P.) is for
children Kindergarten through 12th grade to educate them in
culture and understand religious practices. A glimpse on
understanding The Bhagvad Gita provides children with an
opportunity to learn about the GITA with simplicity, ease and
in an inclusive discussion format. Info on CROP 704.547.1676
(Chetna Patel) patel4260@bellsouth.net. The Senior Citizens
Group meets on the 1st Sunday of every month at 4 pm and
followed by Satyanarayan Katha at 5 pm. Future trips and
activities are in the planning stages. Info on the group:
704.334.2462 (Gobind Bhojwani). The sloka class teaches
children above the age of five different Hindu hymns, their
meaning and significance. The class meets Sundays at 9:30 am.
Info on the class: 704.814.9355 (Lakshmi Muthukrishnan). Info
on the Social Welfare Committee: 704.372.1265 (Narain Amar)
or 704.948.5609 (Dhinakaran Pillai). The Vedic Havan is held at
the vedant hall on second Sunday of every month at 10:30 am
to 12:00 pm noon followed by Prasadam. Info: 704.825.9223
(Swadesh Sawhney). The Pranayam classes are held on
Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Info: 704.649.5374 (Kajal
Jain), 704.554.0765 (Manisha Naik), or 281.304.5597 (Sanjay
Vyas) pranayamclt@aol.com. Yoga classes are held Sundays at
9 am. Info: 704.864.8212 pradip_bulsara@hotmail.com. Free
Table Tennis Open Play & Coaching is available for Members
and their families (especially children 10 years and over). The
hours are from 6.30 – 10 pm every Wednesday in the Vihar
Hall. No prior registration is necessary. There are five good
tables and can add more as necessary. Free coaching is also
available from Srinivas Janardhan (SJ) and three other
experienced certified coaches from Charlotte Table Tennis Club
(CTTC). For further details visit www.TTCLT.com or contact
SJ (s_jan@yahoo.com), Hemant Amin (hvamin@hotmail.com)
or Chetan Thakker (chetanthakker@yahoo.com).
Upcoming Events:
Thu Jul 12 - Sun Jul 15: Katha by Pujya Goswami 108
Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayashri.
Sat Jul 28: Anniversary celebration and Health Fair
For Further Details:
www.hcclt.org

Charlotte Vipassana Meditation Group
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one
of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught
in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for
universal ills. The Charlotte Vipassana Meditation Group holds
weekly group sits and monthly all day sits for established
students (those who have taken at least one ten day course
from S. N. Goenka or one of his assistant teachers). Ten-day
courses are also available for all students. There is never a
charge for a course. New center now open in Jesup, GA. To
apply for a 10 day retreat visit www.patapa.dhamma.org
For Further Details:
704.277.5013, rbddesai@gmail.com
704.563.5440, dspranger@gmail.com
www.dhamma.org
Classical Music Association of Charlotte (CMAC)
CMAC sponsors many classical concerts during the year in
Charlotte. Membership forms are available at concerts.
For Further Details:
704.541.3361 (Rama Rachakonda),
704.814.9355 (Lakshmi Muthukrishnan),
lakshmi7778@yahoo.com
cmacmusic@yahoo.com
www.onlinecmac.com
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI) was established to
help in the overall development of the remote tribal and rural
villages in India. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA along with
EVFI is committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy from
tribal areas. Education is the key to self-esteem, self-sustenance,
economic wellbeing and happiness. Ekal Vidyalya (One School
One Teacher in one village) plans to establish 100,000 schools
in tribal areas by 2012. This will cover all the villages in tribal
areas where there are no schools today. The Carolinas Region
of the EVFUSA conducts fund raising and awareness programs
in North and South Carolina.
For Further Details:
Ekal Charlotte Chapter: Neena Narumanchi
neena.narumanchi@gmail.com
Ekal Columbia: Janak Dalal / jaydalalcolumbia@gmail.com

IAMC (Indian American Muslim Council)
- Charlotte Chapter
IAMC formerly known as IMC-USA (Indian Muslim Council
– USA) is an Independent not for profit, tax exempt
organization committed to promoting peace, pluralism and
social justice for all through advocacy. The organization is also
committed to promote and protect human rights and human
dignity in India as they are the foundation of freedom, justice
and peace. IAMC-Charlotte, seeks to reach out to Indian
Muslims living in and around Charlotte to join our efforts as
we are dedicated to promote Peace, Human Rights and Social
Justice for all in India, to strive for Inter-Faith, InterCommunity understanding in the United States with particular
focus on Indian Diaspora and to build alliances and
relationships with individuals and groups who share our basic
values. The IAMC-Charlotte chapter is supported by donations
from its members.
For Further Details:
Ashfaq Mehdi 704.904.5778
Afzal Syed 704.770.1103
iamc-charlotte@yahoogroups.com
India Association of Charlotte (Festival of India)
Is a nonprofit organization with the goal of fostering better
understanding of the rich diversity of Indian culture, by the
larger community in and around Charlotte. A key activity is
the annual Festival of India, which will be held on September
22-23, 2012 in uptown Charlotte.
For Further Details:
Toni Sawhney 704-604-2133
Lal Vishin 704-545-3727
www.indiafestival.net
Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte (IPAAC)
IPAAC (Indian Performing Arts Association of Charlotte)
promotes classical Hindustani music by inviting well-known
artists from India.
For Further Details:
Sarla Kumar 704.846.4423
Chaula Jain 704.364.0984
contact@ipaac.org
www.ipaac.org

Kiran
KIRAN is a multi-cultural, non-religious, community based,
South Asian organization. Promoting the self-reliance and
empowerment of South Asian women who are in crisis through
outreach, peer support, and referrals in a confidential manner.
The group spreads awareness of South Asian women’s issues
in the community and we cooperate and collaborate with
organizations in the USA and elsewhere with similar
objectives. Countries in South Asia include Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Burma, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka. Though there are differences in language, customs, and
religions across these countries, these regions share many basic
cultural and historical similarities. KIRAN operates a crisis
phone line Monday- Friday from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm. For help
or information regarding domestic violence call an advocate.
Services offered are confidential and free of charge:
• Information in a culture- and context-sensitive manner
• Non-judgmental help and support to women who are
experiencing oppressive/crisis situations
• Emotional support
• Referrals to professional and community services regarding
legal issues, health care, short-term child care, psychological
counseling, and temporary shelter and housing
• KIRAN’s services are completely confidential. Translators

Indian Visual Artists Association of Charlotte (IVAAC)
IVAAC was founded by artists of Indian origin living in the
Charlotte, NC area in their pursuit of a creative outlet,
stemming from an urge to express the flow of their innate
artistic moods and ideas. The vision is to promote the enigmatic
and intriguing Indian culture into meaningful forms of
expression that exposes the rich traditions and diversity of one
of the most ancient civilizations on earth, in today’s fast
blending global culture and to create an organization that
provides planning and funding required to ensure and support
a vibrant and culturally diverse Indian art community.
For Further Details:
704.540.8799 (Amit Shah),
704.688.5387 (Kinshuk Agarwal)
www.ivaac.org

and crisis counselors do not disclose any information provided
by our clients. For Further Details:
Crisis Hotline: 1877- NC-KIRAN or 1-877-625-4726
Kiran@Kiraninc.org
http://www.kiraninc.org

month, an additional Satsang Sabha is held at the sponsor’s
house at 3 - 5 pm.
For Further Details:
704.392.4488 - Ramesh Dhanani
admin@issvcharlotte.org

Net IP Charlotte
NetIP Charlotte is the only official Carolinas chapter of North
America’s Largest Network of Indian Professionals. NetIP
Charlotte provides a forum for on-going Career Developmental
and Professional Networking activities. It arranges various
events and maintains deeper ties with Businesses and the
community. It provides various effective ways for Carolinas’
Indian Professionals to connect with other successful
professionals.
For Further Details: www.netIPnc.org

SouthPark Cricket Club
South Park Cricket Club is based in Charlotte, North Carolina
and it has been an active member of the Mid Atlantic Cricket
Conference since 2002. The club’s home ground is located at
the Reedy Creek Park, 2900 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC.
For Further Details:
847.722.9865 (Baseet Ahmed), baseer_11@yahoo.com
www.southparkcc.org
Srishti of Charlotte
Srishti based in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the past 6+
years has emerged to fulfill the North Carolina community’s
need for togetherness and the desire to showcase Bengali
culture, heritage, literature, theatre, music and popular arts.
Literally, the word Srishti means an act of creation. Though
established and coordinated by a group of Bengali families,
Srishti welcomes and brings together people of varied cultures,
ethnicity, languages, background and nationalities who are
interested in East Indian traditions. Members include not only
Bengalis but also Indians from other parts of the country.
Sristhi’s 3rd annual kids talent contest presents: Little
Achievers Felicitation Program. Every child is unique. Their
success in school or life begins with strong words of
affirmation, encouragement and appreciation in every little
thing they do or can do. If your child has a talent, this is the
time to show it. Contest is open to children age 3-13 yrs and is
divided into 3 different age groups in following categories:
Dancing, singing, poetry, short poem, Mantra recitation, on
spot essay writing and arts. Contest date is Sept 1, 2012 at
Gandhi bhavan - Hindu center from 12 -4 pm. Official entry
form available at saathee.com/lafp. Deadline for receipt of the
application is August 25, 2012. For more info call Manisha
Singh 704-778-3158.
For Further Details:
Samiksha Bose: 704-321-1964
Santanu Sarkar : 704-541-3451
Rituparna Mukherjee: 704-844-9505

Pratham - Charlotte Area
Pratham is India’s largest non-profit organization with grass
roots programs in the area of primary education. Pratham has
made an impact on the learning levels of several million
children through its Read India campaign which reached 31
million children across India. Pratham has developed an
accelerated learning technique which helps children to read &
write in two months. With nearly half the children in India who
attend schools are not learning to read and write at the required
level, Pratham is trying to fill an important gap in the area of
primary education. For Further Details: Anju Desai
(ajdesai66@gmail.com or 980-622-0125) and Shubhra
Chakraborty (shubhra.chakraborty1@gmail.com) or 704-9424798). www.prathamusa.org.
Probasi of Charlotte
Probasi is the Bengali community based in Charlotte and
surrounding areas. The community’s goal is to organize
cultural and educational program related to Bengal in the
Greater Charlotte area, to increase Bengali cultural awareness,
and to provide community service in the area.
For Further Details:
www.probasi.org
Sangamithra Foundation
Sangamithra Foundation was formed by a group of people
who strive to make a difference in society and has taken the
path of identifying the needs of underprivileged communities
in India and provides support to meet those needs. The first
project of providing a water filtering system to a school in India
was successfully completed within just months of the founding
of the organization. The foundation is reaching out on a global
scale and working collectively towards realizing its vision.
For Futher Details:
www.sangamithra.org
www.facebook.com/SangamithraFoundation;
email: info@sangamithra.org; twitter: @sangamithraUSA.

United Cricket Club
Forming a team this March of experienced as well as beginners
that love cricket. Team will play in the Atlantic League.
Practice is every Sunday at Reedy Creek Park (11 to 4pm).
Sunday and Monday evenings for ages 15 and up. Join the fun.
For Further Details:
704.905.9127(Captain-Syed)
704.493.7629(Vice Captain-Mohsan)

Greensboro

Shree Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal Vadtal
On the 1st Saturday of every month, Shree Swaminarayan
Satsang Mandal Vadtal has kirtans and bhajans at the Hindu
Center of Charlotte at 5 pm. After the bhajans, there is Aarti
and Mahaprasad. In addition, on the 3rd Sunday of every
Saathee.com

Greensboro Cricket Club (GCC)
Good news for cricket lovers! There are several teams that play
cricket in Greensboro. The goals of GCC are fun, fitness, and
friendship. For info on play and location contact below players.
96

India Association of the Triad
The objective of the Association is to promote social, cultural
and educational interests of its members, develop
understanding between members of the Indian community and
other residents of the Triad, and make the latter aware of issues
of concern to the Indian community.
For Further Details: Ruby Singh - 336.430.9068
rs7227@gmail.com
Krishna Balu - 336.292.9462, balu3103@triad.rr.com
www.iatnc.org

Triad Hindu Temple
The Triad Hindu Temple is located at 2424 Huffine Mill Rd.,
Greensboro. Its mission is to serve the Hindu Community and
promote Hindu Culture through religious, social and
educational activities. Regularly scheduled events include Puja,
bhajans, children’s programs, celebration of holidays and
community service.
For Further Details:
www.triadhindutemple.org

Indo-US Cultural Association of Winston-Salem
The Indo-US Cultural Association’s primary mission is to
increase awareness of the cultural heritage of India which is
tremendously rich in its diversity and history. The Association
seeks to reach out to the thriving Indian-American community
within the Piedmont and Triad areas to share the vibrant
Indian culture and promote cross-cultural understanding.
For Further Details:
Manjunath C Shamanna, 336.413.5090
http://indouswinston.org/contact.aspx

Triad Nepalese Community Center (TNCC)
TNCC is an association of Nepalese and friends living in the
Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. The Piedmont Triad
region encompasses the cities of Greensboro, High Point and
Winston-Salem, and the surrounding areas. TNCC was
established with a view to: Bring together Nepalese residents
of this region and their friends to work cohesively toward
preserving and promoting Nepalese ethnicity, culture and arts;
Promote friendship, cooperation and mutual respect among
the Nepalese people and the diverse Triad community; Provide
direct and supportive services to the community; Empower
community members to achieve skills and confidence in order
to contribute to the well being of the Triad community;
Collaborate closely with local organizations and agencies to
fulfill our mission to address any challenges of the community.
For further details:
info@nctncc.org
www.nctncc.org/portal/home.html

Life Bliss Foundation
The NC Chapter offers workshops, books, CD’s, and DVD’s on
spirituality and enlightenment from living enlightened master
Paramahamsa Nithyananda. Many videos are available on
YouTube. Satsang in Greensboro is held the first Wednesday of
each month. The meeting includes meditation, video discourse,
and Q&A. Satsang Location: First Wednesday of the month,
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Integrative Therapies, 7-E Oak Branch
Drive, Greensboro NC 27407. Meditation workshops are taught
on a regular basis.
For Further Details:
336.644.1111
www.lifebliss.org
Life Mission, USA
This ashram has been established to provide helpful benefits
for all - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. All these
benefits can be achieved through the natural remedies of yoga
therapy, ayurveda, naturopathy and diet. 8136 NC Highway
119 South Mebane, NC 27302.
Upcoming Programs:
July 5 - 11: Youth Camp
Aug 11: Nandotsav
Saathee.com

Raleigh
AANC - Assamese Association of North Carolina
AANC is a Socio Cultural organization with the objective of
promoting and providing understanding of Assamese Culture
98

Bengali Association of North Carolina (BANC)
BANC seeks to promote Bengali culture, language, music, arts
and social activities by offering varieties of programs for
members of INDO-American community within North
Carolina and adjacent states. The association is organized
exclusively for charitable, cultural, social and educational
purposes.
For Further Details:
919.461.2386 (Ratan Ray), ratanray@hotmail.com
919.510.7943 (Swaty Sen), swaty_sen@yahoo.com
banc_members@googlegroups.com
www.banc-online.org

and Language. AANC celebrates Assamese festivals and
organizes cultural activities like Bihu Dance, music, songs and
social get-togethers with essential touch of Assamese culture.
Everyone from Assam as well as anyone with any connection
to or interest in Assam or Assamese culture is most welcomed.
For Further Details:
919.200.4020
assameseassociation.nc@gmail.com
Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange
(AFICE)
Interested in exploring the diverse cultures of the world?
Become a host family for a high school exchange student! All
the students will come from various countries around the
world, and all students speak fluent English. They are of high
school age (15-18) and will attend local high school in their
respective communities. Each student will live as member of
their American host family, sharing household duties and
responsibilities.
AFICE is a non-profit educational
organization dedicated to bringing cultural gaps by allowing
foreign students the opportunity to live as part of an American
community.
For Further Details:
lathapamarthi@earthlink.net
www.afice.org

Bharatiya Senior Citizens of North Carolina (BSCNC)
BSCNC is a nonprofit organization for senior citizens of Indian
origin that are age of 60 years and above. The BSCNC members
meet on the second Saturday of each month at Cary Senior
Center in Bond Park in Cary NC from 10am to 3pm. The Next
meeting will be on Saturday July 14th at which there will be a
Video of One of the Play (‘’Natak’’) and members will play
“Indoor Games” like ‘’Carrom Board and Playing Cards’’.
For Further Details:
Bhartiben Patel 919.886.4391
Mulchandbhai Patel 252.446.7891
Mahendrabhai Patel 919.793.6588
Carolina Rajasthani Association
Upcoming Events:
Sat Aug 25 - 5:00 p.m. - Teej Pooja at Hindu Bhavan Temple
For Further Details:
www.carolinarajasthanis.org
Sushma Maheshwari - 919-880-8529, sushmaofnc@yahoo.com
Shruti Singhi - 919-412-4819, mshruti@yahoo.com

Association for India’s Development (AID)
Duke University Chapter
AID’s mission is effect social change in India, by supporting
projects with grassroots non-governmental organization in
India in the areas of literacy, health care, rural credit, women’s
empowerment etc.
For Further Details:
http://www.duke.edu/web/aid/
Balagokulam
Gokulam is where Lord Krishna’s magical childhood days
were spent. It was here that his divine powers came to light.
Every child has that spark of divinity within. Balagokulam is a
forum for children (4-15 years age) to discover and manifest
that divinity. It will enable Hindu children in the US to
appreciate their cultural roots and learn values. This is done
through games, yoga, stories, songs, shlokas, arts/crafts, and
Seva (selfless service) in the community. Balagokulam sessions
are free for all and are held on Saturdays.
For Further Details:
balagokulam.rtp@gmail.com
hss.charlotte@hssus.org (Charlotte region)
www.balagokulam.org
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir invites everyone to
the regularly scheduled events: Ravi sabha - every Sunday at
4 - 6 pm followed by Aarti and Maha Prasad. Mahapuja – every
Purnima at 7 pm. Many classes are conducted. Fresh Indian
snacks and sweets available at Shayona. 1020 Aviation
Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560.
For Further Details:
919.469.6605
www.swaminarayan.org
Saathee.com

Chinmaya Mission
Chinmaya Mission is a worldwide non-profit organization
promoting spiritual growth, started by Pujya Gurudev Swami
Chinmayananda. The Chinmaya Mission Raleigh Durham
(CMRDU) chapter conducts Balavihar classes from 3 year old
to youth on Sunday from 10 am to 11:30 am at Reedy Creek
Middle School, Cary. The classes are tailored to each age group
by special curriculum created by experienced Swamijis and
Acharyas exclusively for CM Balavihar. Trained teachers
conduct the classes. Curriculum includes learning to chant the
Bhagavad-Gita verses, shlokas, singing devotional bhajans,
stories from scriptures, family pujas, meditation, and fun
activities like overnight lock-ins, picnics, and competitions.
Introduction to Hindi and Sanskrit is also included. This year’s
theme being Rama - My Brother, the children will learn to
incorporate helpful virtues throughout their life. All festivals
are celebrated with families and Prasad. Parents wishing to
enroll their children in Balavihar can register through the
website. A regular adult study group is conducted for adults
on Sunday mornings at Reedy Creek Middle School, as well as
other locations in the Triangle.
For Further Details:
Venkat Mandavilli at 919.387.8434
Srinivas Andhavarapu at 919.439.4444
www.chinmaya-rdu.org

100

July 2012

Blooming Buds

Welcome To The Wonderful World Of Travel At

Ttravel
Guru
Shakoon Panjwani

18 Exclusive Mandaps to offer!!
Decorations and Flowers for All Occasions

Dada Bhagwan Satsang
Download some spiritual books and enrich the spiritual
foundation. Subscriptions for monthly spiritual magazine
“Dadavani” are also available.
When in India, don’t miss opportunity to visit Tri Mandir at
Adalaj near Ahmedabad.
Visit www.dadabhagwan.org and watch Satsang on Web TV.
For children - visit www.kids.dadabhagwan.org
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation RTP Chapter
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (EVFI) was established to
help in the overall development of the remote tribal and rural
villages in India. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA along with
EVFI is committed to the cause of eradicating illiteracy from
tribal areas. Education is the key to self-esteem, self-sustenance,
economic well being and happiness. Ekal Vidyalya (One School
One Teacher in one village) plans to establish 100,000 schools
in tribal areas by 2012. This will cover all the villages in tribal
areas where there are no schools today. The Raleigh Chapter
EVFUSA conducts fund raising and awareness programs in the
Triangle area.
For further details:
Ekal/RTP: raginiusa@yahoo.com
Geet Bazaar Radio Program
Every Sunday morning from 10 am - 12 noon on WKNC 88.1
FM, join hosts Afroz Taj and John Caldwell, for a wide variety
of music from India, Pakistan, and other countries and
languages of South Asia. Geet Bazaar will also publicize
community events free of charge.
For Further Details:
919.851.1119 (Dr. Afroj Taj)
taj@unity.ncsu.edu
GEM - Raleigh Church of God
Attend worship services, prayer meetings or Sunday School.
For Further Details:
919.395.6208 (Pastor Thankachan M.)
globalem@gmail.com
Heritage India Association of North Carolina (HIANC)
Heritage India Association of NC aims at providing Indian
cultural experience through performing arts, cultural arts, fine
arts & crafts of India. Its mission is “to preserve and promote
Indian heritage and culture.” During the year, Heritage India
Association of North Carolina presents several events and also
coordinates Indian dances for the main stage performances for
the Raleigh International Festival.
For Further Details:
yashcgarg@gmail.com
Hindi Vikas Mandal of NC
Hindi Vikas Mandal (HVM), based in the RTP area, promotes
study and appreciation of Hindi language and strives to foster
Indian culture and traditions through Hindi. HVM has a
special focus on the youths for the preservation of Indian
Culture and heritage.
For Further Details:
Saroj Sharma 919.851.0225
V.P. Tiwari 919.423.0365
Saathee.com

Hindu Society of North Carolina - Morrisville, NC
The Hindu Society of North Carolina, located at 309 Aviation
Parkway, Morrisville, N.C. serves the Indian community in the
Triangle area and its vicinity. Temple timings are: Mon. - Fri. 8
- 11 am and 5 - 9 pm, Sat. - Sun. 8 am - 7 pm. Daily Aarti and
Puja is also conducted by the Priest. Other regular religious and
cultural programs: Monthly Vedic Havan, Tuesday Hauman
Chalisa recitation, Sri Ramakrishna Study Group, Sri Sai Baba
Group, Gita Study Group, Devi Puja, Vaishnav Bhajan Group,
Akhand Ramayana Recitation, Weekend Language and
Spiritual Knowledge Classes, and Sloka classes for Children.
Yoga classes are also offered twice a week (Sunday at 8:00 a.m.
and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.) at the Cultural Hall. Priest
services are available at your home and/or at the Temple at a
nominal charge.
For Further Details:
Saroj Sharma at 919.654.5224 or 919.851.1225
Arvind Shah 919.434.8021
hsnc@hsncweb.org
www.hsncweb.org
Hindu Students Council (HSC) - NC State University
HSC-NCSU is a chapter of the national organization Hindu
Students Council (HSC). HSC-NCSU is a cultural and religious
student organization. It aims to provide opportunities to learn
about Hindu philosophy, spirituality and cultural heritage
through various activities, events and projects and is dedicated
to provide “seva” (service) to the community.
For Further Details:
919.676.0298 (Mrinmoyee Sanyal)
msanyal@ncsu.edu
www.hsc-ncsu.org
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS)
The HSS conducts weekly activities to develop character and
leadership skills in participants, emphasizing values such as
self-discipline, self-confidence and a spirit of selfless service
(seva) for humanity while maintaining Hindu cultural identity
in harmony with the larger society. HSS is inspired by the idea
that the whole world is one family. HSS started in 1989 in the
United States and currently has over 100 chapters (shakhas)
across the country. The Research Triangle Park chapter meets
every Saturday. Activities are tailored to include yoga, games,
songs, lectures and discussions on Hindu dharma and culture.
For Further Details:
hss.rtp@hssus.org - Triangle area
hss.charlotte@hssus.org - Charlotte region.
Hum Sub
Hum Sub is dedicated to sharing the social and cultural
traditions of India with the residents of the Research Triangle
Park and North Carolina.
For Further Details:
919.931.3572 - President (Meena Jeyakumar)
919.757.6666 - Vice President (Sunny Surana)
www.humsub.net
Indian Classical Music & Dance Society (ICMDS)
ICMDS is dedicated to the task of promoting Indian classical
music and dance in the Triangle area. ICMDS invites the top
102

July 2012

FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTAL SERVICES
FREE CONSULTATION SERVICES AND 25% OFF X-RAYS
on first dental visit with this advertisement
(Ad Code - H1001C)

Dr. Lina V. Mistry, DDS
Since graduating from New York University
Dental School in 1999, Dr Mistry has been
serving the greater Charlotte area and the
Carolinas providing comprehensive general
family and cosmetic dental care.

www.pinevilledentistry.com
Call for appointment 704-543-4200

10410 Park Rd. Suite 500
Charlotte, NC, 28210
July 2012

artists from all over the world to perform in the Triangle area.
Upcoming Events:
Sat Aug 11: “Mahishasura Mardini” - A Colorful Kuchipudi
Dance Ballet of Natya Kala Ratna, Natyacharya, Shri
Pasumarthi Venkateswara Sarma and Group at 6pm. Venue:
Green Hope High School, Cary, NC.
For Further Details:
www.icmds.org
Indo-American Friendship Foundation
Did you know that about 90 percent of rural orphans are
female and most of them are abandoned at birth due to their
gender? Not one of them gets the opportunity to become a
doctor, engineer, or even receive basic education. Because they
cannot live in the orphanage when they turn 18, many of them
fall victim to different types of exploitation, including sex trade.
IAFF has created an orphanage education fund to help
qualified orphans to rise as high as they can climb in the
educational/professional ladder. For Further Details:
919.362.7653 (Dr. Subhas C. Mohapatra)
www.iaff1.org
Indus Foundation
Indus Foundation was founded in NC by a group of
professionals with the sole purpose of giving back to the
community and the country that has helped members achieve
success. Every dollar is wisely spent back into the community
without any overheads. Current major projects: Indian Cancer
Society rehabilitation Center in Mumbai, Mental Healthcare
Center for socially rejected Women in Indore, and three
Educational Centers in Gurgaon. Adopt an on-going project or
launch a new project under specific guidelines. Make a
commitment today to build a better tomorrow.
For Further Details:
919.461.0001 (Dr. Vinnie Goel, Chairman)
919.467.0598 (Dr. Shri Kulkarni, President)
919.319.7294 (Dr. Vijaya Bapat, Vice-President)
www.indusfoundation.info
International Community Church
CC is a worship center for people from India and neighboring
countries. The pastor is Joseph B. Jesudason and the church
office is located at 1215 Franklin Jones Road, Suite #204,
Raleigh, NC 27606.
For Further Details:
919.233.2900
www.internationalcommunitychurch.org
International Hindi Association
International Hindi Association (IHA) promotes Hindi
language and literature and has chapters all over the United
States. The Raleigh Chapter periodically organizes Kavi
Sammelans with local and indigenous talents. Open to those
interested in listening to poetry or in reciting poetry.
For Further Details:
919.656.5224 (Saroj Sharma)
919.678.9056 (Sudha Om Dhingra)
www.hindi.org

Saathee.com

International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization (ISSO)
Primary objective of ISSO is “To advance the Sanatan Dharma
in accordance with the principles and teachings of Shree
Swaminarayan Sampradaya, founded and ordained by Lord
Shree Swaminarayan (Shree Sahajanand Swami),” enabling His
devotees from both the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi (Ahmedabad)
and Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi (Vadtal) to practice their
religious duties in harmony. The Raleigh-Durham chapter
organizes a “Satsang Sabha” every two weeks, typically on
Friday or Saturday evenings, which includes Kirtan bhakti,
Katha, Aarti and Mahaprasad.
For Further Details:
919.363.2356 (Niraj Joshi)
niraj_joshi@yahoo.com
www.swaminarayan.info
Kiran
KIRAN is a multi-cultural, non-religious, community based,
South Asian organization. Promoting the self-reliance and
empowerment of South Asian women who are in crisis through
outreach, peer support, and referrals in a confidential manner.
The group spreads awareness of South Asian women’s issues
in the community and we cooperate and collaborate with
organizations in the USA and elsewhere with similar
objectives. Countries in South Asia include Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Burma, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka. Though there are differences in language, customs, and
religions across these countries, these regions share many basic
cultural and historical similarities. KIRAN operates a crisis
phone line Monday- Friday from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm. For help
or information regarding domestic violence call an advocate.
Services offered are confidential and free of charge:
• Information in a culture- and context-sensitive manner
• Non-judgmental help and support to women who are
experiencing oppressive/crisis situations
• Emotional support
• Referrals to professional and community services regarding
legal issues, health care, short-term child care, psychological
counseling, and temporary shelter and housing
• KIRAN’s services are completely confidential. Translators
and crisis counselors do not disclose any information provided
by our clients. For Further Details:
Crisis Hotline: 1877- NC-KIRAN or 1-877-625-4726
Kiran@Kiraninc.org
www.kiraninc.org
Lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat
Lakulish Yoga and Health Retreat is a secluded resort in
Caswell County, located at 8136 N.C. Highway 119 South,
Mebane, NC 27302. It is a place of natural beauty that
stimulates a spirit of detachment and inspires and uplifts
visitors. This resort is hallowed by a Yogi, a Sannyasi who
ensures that the true practice of Dharm and Yoga flourishes
here, offering the North Carolina community and visitors an
ongoing program of free Yoga Classes. The classes are offered
each Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm, and each week on Saturday
from 11 am - 1 pm.
For Further Details:
336.421.0690 / lifemisionusa@gmail.com
www.lifemissionusa.org
104

July 2012

Religious Ceremonies

looking for a
Multilingual
Hindu Priest
to Perform
Rituals at your
home?
now Serving
Charlotte, Raleigh,
Greensboro and
all of nC and SC
You Can Call Sastriji for
Weddings,
Upanayanams,
various types of Hawans,
Bhoomi Pujas,
Gruhapravesh,
Sri Satyanarayan Katha
& More

Serving Buyers and Sellers Since 1989
Our experienced and talented agents can speak
English, Hindi & Gujarati
Let Us Help You Buy
or Sell A Business
County South Realty & Business Brokers
303 Indian Trail Road South
Indian Trail, NC 28079

Nuv Yug
Nuv Yug is a cultural organization with a mission to promote
awareness of Indian cultural arts and heritage. Striving to
create synergy among various cultural groups from the South
Asian region.
For Further Details:
www.nuvyug.net
Pakistani American Association
The Pakistani-American Association (NCPAA) is a nonpolitical, non-sectarian, cultural and social organization that
promotes Pakistani culture to all the communities in the
Triangle Area of NC. Several events are presented during the
year including a family dinner on the second Friday of every
month.
For Further Details:
payamber@ncpaa.org
http://ncpaa.org
Pratham - Triangle Area
Founded as a UNICEF initiative, Pratham is a grass-roots
organization that works towards universalizing primary
education in India. With a goal of reaching 20 million children,
Pratham is one of the largest NGOs in field of literacy
movement in India. Pratham continues to evolve, grow and
works to meet the continually changing needs of the children
it educates. Pratham’s North Carolina chapter actively aims to
collaborate with individuals, local organizations and
community associations and seeks ideas, volunteers and
resources to deliver the vision of “Every Child in School and
Learning Well.” For details: Gunvant Bhakta, 919-488-8975;
Punit Chhabra, 919-380-9569; Sudha Rathie, 919-481-4451;
Harshad Shah, 919-341-8894.
For Further Details:
www.prathamusa.org
Priyadarshini Arts
Known for their unique dance drama pieces, is a non-profit,
duo sister team, promoting India’s Vedic and modern heritage
through the various forms of dance and acting.
For Further Details:
Varshana at priyadarshini.arts@gmail.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/PriyadarshiniArts

Professional Indians’ Association [PIA]
PIA is a meetup that serves young South Asian professionals
in the Triangle Community. The group is made of Indian
professionals and grad students interested in cultural events,
socializing and meeting/making friends with like-minded
people around the Triangle. Monthly events include meeting
at bars/restaurants, Bollywood movie nights, potlucks, Indian
concerts/performances, outdoor activities, community service
and volunteering. This will also be an opportunity for
professionals to share their thoughts on respective industries,
social causes, the economy and politics.
For Further Details:
http://www.meetup.com/PIATriangle/

Saathee.com

106

Punjabi Unlimited
Punjabi Unlimited is dedicated to promotion/creation of a
public awareness and education about Punjabi Arts, Culture,
Sports, Language, Music, Dance etc. All welcome who are
“Punjabi at Heart.” For Further Details: Gurpreet Burmi
president@punjabiunlimited,org;
Arvinder
Singh
vicepresident@punjabiunlimited.org
www.punjabiunlimited.org
Raleigh Karaoke Group
Raleigh Karaoke Group meets once a month for the South
Asian community of the Triangle area to showcase their talent
and lose themselves in nostalgia through song. Events are free
and open to the entire music loving community for singing or
listening to friends sing so bring your fans along if you wish
and pass the word. Choose from over 15,000 Hindi Film, NonFilm, Ghazals, Gujrati, Punjabi, Kanada, Koli, Konkani,
Malayalam, Malayalam Muslim, Marathi, Oriya, and English
Songs including holiday favorites. Sessions are held at Zayka
Indian Cuisine in the Brier Creek area of North Raleigh
(919.361.5370) on the third Friday of the month from 7:30 PM
to 11:30 PM but please call or e-mail for a confirmed date.
For Further Details:
Shafi Parekh at (919) 413-3924,
Email at shafi@pdiagnostics.com
Raleigh Sai Center
Parthi Sai devotees of Triangle area meet every Sunday from
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Mini-Hall of Hindu Bhavan in
Morrisville. There will be Study circle, Bhajan Practice, Veda
Chanting etc. during the 4-5 pm slot depending on the week,
followed by bhajans from 5:00 - 6:00. The center carries out
several service activities as well. The Human Values Education
(SSE) classes for the children of different age group will be from
3:30 - 5:00. All are invited to participate in the Satsangh and
service activities.
For Further Details:
Ganesh Kumar, President, Raleigh Sai Center at (919) 413 0579
or (919) 833-7523
E-mail rsc.president@yahoo.com.
RTP Maharashtra Mandal
RTP Maharashtra Mandal promotes Maharashtrian culture and
language. Maharashtra mandal is committed to serve RTP
community with various cultural, social and traditional
marathi programs and events.
For Further Details:
919.468.8824 (Jayant Yete)
919.757.7300 (Neeraj Shikarkhane)
www.rtpmm.org

S. V. Temple of North Carolina
S.V. Temple of North Carolina is built on over nine acres of
centrally connected triangle area. This grand tribute to Lord
Venkateswara and his consorts is designed to exacting
standards of shilpa shasthra and features the only shrine in
North America to incorporate abodes to Lord Viswaksena and
Lord Sudarshana/Lord Narasimha as part of Srinivasa
Parivaram. The temple rituals are performed in accordance
July 2012

with Pancharathra Agama Shastra.
Upcoming Events:
For Further Details: 919.468.0040
comm@svtemplenc.org
www.svtemplenc.org
Sahaj Marg Meditation - Triangle Area
Sahaj Marg translates to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Natural Path.â&#x20AC;? It is a natural,
simple system of Raja Yoga meditation and spiritual practice
that helps one realize the ultimate potential within oneself.
Regular spiritual practice under capable guidance enables
aspirants to progressively experience the sublime presence of
the divine in their daily lives. Sahaj Marg system of meditation
is freely offered to seekers worldwide through Shri Ram
Chandra Mission. In Triangle area, group meditations are held
on Sundays and Wednesdays.
For Further Details:
(919) 303-7447 (Raj Solanki)
(919) 493-6180 (Devi Sekar)
raleigh.center@gmail.com>
www.srcm.org, www.sahajmarg.org
SAMPIGE - Triangle Kannada Association
The Triangle Kannada Association is a cultural association for
people residing in the Triangle area from Karnataka, India.
Sampige organizes Kannada (the language spoken in the
Karnataka area) activities in music, dance and drama as well
as social activities.
For Further Details:
sampigeeditor@yahoo.com
www.sampige.org
Share and Care Foundation Carolina Chapter
Share and Care Foundation Carolina Chapter is part of Share
and Care Foundation based in New Jersey. It is a charitable
organization focused their work in Rural India and their main
goal is to empower children and women by providing funding
to NGOs for their education, vocational training and microloans. More than 90% of donations reach the empowered
people with the least administration and marketing cost.
For further details:
919.237.2816 (Manu Patel), Patelmanu@hotmail.com
919.481.4618 (Piyush Patel)
www.shareandcare.org
Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina
The Sikh Gurudwara of North Carolina welcomes visitors of
all backgrounds regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or
gender. All peoples, regardless of their origin or orientation,
are welcome to attend our services and share in the blessings
of God. Religious services are held every Saturday evening and
Sunday morning, followed by a community meal (langar). In
addition to religious services, we offer educational programs
for children and young adults. Adults participate in religious
discourse during monthly study circles. Members of the Sangat
(congregation) regularly participate in community service
projects in the Triangle area. The Sikh Gurdwara at North
Carolina is located at 3214 Banner Street in Durham, NC 27704.
For Further Details:
919.220.9917 / www.sgncweb.org
Saathee.com

South Indian Fine Arts Academy (SIFAA)
SIFAA is a non-profit organization that works to arrange and
promote concerts and performances in the Triangle and Triad
areas, concentrating on Carnatic music for the present.
Upcoming Events:
For Further Details:
919.773.1580
www.sifaa.org
Sri Shirdi SaiBaba Mandir NC
SSMNC promotes Sai philosophy and facilitates worship and
services similar to Shirdi SaiBaba Temple, located in ShirdiIndia. This Organization is dedicated to sponsor and support
religious, spiritual, cultural, educational and charitable
activities in the United States and abroad. Mandir Timings:
Monday - Friday 9 - 10 am, 12 noon - 1pm, 6 - 9 pm. Sat - Sun
9 am - 9pm. Details at www.shirdisaimandirnc.org or call
919.386.1085.
St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Holy Qurbana and Sunday School are held in
Malayalam/English, led by Reverend Dr. M. K. Thomas at 225
Bashford Road, Raleigh, NC.
For Further Details:
919.461.1773
sec@stgregoriosnc.org
www.stgregoriosnc.org
Tamil Cultural Association of North Carolina (TCA NC):
TCA NC is a non-profit organization formed for the purpose
of providing youths with exposure to Tamil culture. Everyone
is invited to join TCA and become part of a wonderful
organization promoting Tamil culture in the Triangle area.
For Further Details:
tca_nc@yahoo.com
www.tcanc.org
Tamil Sangam of Carolina
The Tamil Sangam is an organization that promotes
understanding of Tamil culture and provides a medium for
people of Tamil culture to get together. The activities include
music, drama, lectures, Tamil movies, etc.
For Further Details:
919.461.3057 - Alli Dass (President)
www.tamilsangamofcarolina.org
Telugu Christian Fellowship of NC (TCFNC)
The Telugu Christian Fellowship of North Carolina (TCFNC)
is a non-profit organization whose mission is to reach out to
Telugu Christians living in North Carolina, to be united and
bonded together as a Telugu Christian family of God and
encourage and pray for each other. TCFNC provides a place
for Telugu Christians for time of worship, prayer and
fellowship. They also provide a forum for kids to grow in the
knowledge of the Lord and to equip them to be ambassadors
of Jesus Christ. The group organizes, each year, an Annual
Telugu Christian Family Conference.
For further details:
www.tcfnc.org
Phone: 919-43-TCFNC(82362)
108

BOOk Our Band fOr live ShOwS
Garba/Raas, Wedding Songs, Bhajans, Film Songs...

Our office is located in South Charlotte off Highway 521,
at the intersection of Ardrey Kell Rd. & Marvin Rd.,
in the new Cedar Walk development.

Saathee.com

Kirit shukla (704) 568-8206

109

July 2012

Triangle Area Telugu Association (TATA)
The Triangle Area Telugu Association (TATA) is a non-profit
organization (started in 1983) committed to building a vibrant
Telugu Community and promoting Telugu culture and
language in the Triangle area of North Carolina.
For Further Details:
committee@tataonline.org
www.tataonline.org
Triangle Bangladesh Society (TBSNC)
TBSNC strives to arrange musical programs by artists who
have captured the hearts and minds of millions of Bengali-,
Urdu- and Hindi-speaking music fans all around the globe.
For Further Details:
919.741.9343 (Ishtiaque Mohiuddin)
Ishtiaquem@gmail.com
www.tbsnc.org
Triangle Chapter-India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF)
IDRF is a registered, tax-exempt non-profit organization that
supports volunteer-based, honest and highly experienced nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in India in serving their
populations’ critical needs around education, childcare,
healthcare, women empowerment and tribal welfare, as well
as relief and rehabilitation in times of natural disasters.
For Further Details:
www.idrf.org.
Triangle Gujarati Association (TGA)
TGA’ s mission is to promote and serve Gujarati culture in the
Triangle area by organizing various events throughout the year
and impart Gujarati culture and language on the youth.
Upcoming events:
For Further Details:
www.nctga.org
Triangle Rang Mandal
Devotees of Pujya Sri Rang Avdhoot Maharaj meet every
Saturday in Cary or Raleigh from 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM to sing
devotional Dattatreya Bhajans and Datta-Bavani in a spiritual
atmosphere. Special programs organised on Guru Purnima and
Rang Jayanti and on the occasion of Pujya Sri Prem Avdhoot
Bapji’s annual visit to the US.
For Further Details:
rangmandal@gmail.com

Triangle Vegetarian Society (TVS)
The mission of TVS is to build a sense of community between
current vegetarians and people who are interested in
vegetarianism and have a forum for a discussion of issues.
Upcoming Events:
Wed Jul 4 @ 5:00 p.m. —- Fourth of July Potluck at the Davis’
residence, 7337 Fontana Ridge Lane, Raleigh, NC.
Sat Aug 4 @ 6:00 p.m. - Vegan Potluck Dinner and discussion
on Adventism and Vegetarianism Raleigh Seventh-Day
Adventist Church - 4805 Dillard Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina
27606. This will be a joint event with the Seventh Day
Adventists. After the vegan meal, there will be a discussion
about Adventism in general, as well as its views on
Saathee.com

vegetarianism and vegetarian diet.
For Further Details:
barman@cs.unc.edu
www.trianglevegsociety.org
Two Cents of Hope (TCH)
Two Cents of Hope was started by a group of Indian students
at NC State University with the belief in empowering youth via
education. The goal is to uplift the weaker sections of the
society through education. The foundation lies in the power
of cents giving TCH its name. As J. Carney put it, “Little drops
of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean, and the
pleasant land.” By using coin boxes to collect loose change, the
total donations result in a collection that yields considerable
amount of money, enough to give education to a poor student
- indeed a firm footing for the rest of his or her life. Apart from
the coin collection other sources of funding includes
fundraising events (Trishna, Crescendo, and Booth in Cary
Diwali) and sponsors. In the last three years TCH has funded
$21,689, which includes 77 projects benefitting 270 students and
two schools in India. To keep a coin box at your place or to
know more about Two Cents of Hope, email coordinator@nc.twocentsofhope.com.
www.twocentsofhope.com
Urdu Majlis
Urdu Majlis is a literary organization for the promotion of
Urdu language and literature and has no political, national or
religious affiliations. The group has regularly scheduled
monthly meetings in which enthusiasts and scholars of Urdu
literature meet to discuss the life and works of a selected
literary figure.
For Further Details:
919.851.1119 (Dr. Afroz Taj)
919.596.4792 (Ashraf and Seema Faruqi)
taj@unity.ncsu.edu

Regional
Cape Fear Cultural Association of India - Wilmington
Cape Fear Cultural Association of India is an organization that
promotes understanding of Indian culture and promotes a
medium for people of Indian culture to get together.
For Further Details:
Shashin Patel, President. (910.790.9448)
Sanjay Batish, Vice-President. (910.371.9860)
Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce
The Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (GIACC)
develops and promotes trade, business, commercial and
professional relationships between India and the United States,
especially within the state of Georgia. GIACC was formed
recognizing the need for promoting bi-lateral activities among
South Asian and mainstream communities in the United States
and South Asia.
For Further Details:
678.762.7589 AniThirdM@aol.com, ani@giacc.org.
770.840.1925 - susan@giacc.org.
www.giacc.org
110

Hindu Society of Greater Spartanburg
The daily Aarti is at 7:00 p.m., Balvihar classes are conducted
from 10 - 11:45 am on scheduled Sundays, and Satsang is on
second Sunday every month from 5 - 7 pm. Temple is located
on 1130 Fairview Church Road in Boiling Springs, SC 29303.
For Further Details:
864.599.7048
India Assoc. of Greater Charleston (IAGC)
The IAGC was founded in Charleston to bring together people
who were interested in India and to provide a forum to increase
the understanding of the heritage of India in US.
For Further Details:
803.884.0859
iagcfolks@yahoo.com
International Fellowship Church of Greenville, SC
International Fellowship Church offers Sunday worship
services and other weekly activities for people of Indian origin.
For Further Details:
864.234.1256 (Pastor Suhas Raiborde)
www.internationalfellowshipchurch.org
Masjid Noor-UL-Huda
The Mosque is located at 517 Winmet Drive, Columbia, S.C.
On the first Saturday and third Saturday of every month from
6 PM to 8 PM, Islamic session is held by Hafiz Mohammed
Basheer. Quranic Reading classes are conducted daily, and
everyone is encouraged to send their children to these sessions.
For Further Details:
803.749.0827 (Dr. Shami)
803.740.5127 (Qari Abdul Khader Multani)
803.754.2632 (Mosque main number)
Mrudani School of Performing Arts
Mrudani School of Performing Arts is a non-profit organization
whose mission is to promote the classical arts of India. Mrudani
School offers classes in Bharathanatyam (Kalakshetra style) and
Kuchipudi in Columbia, Orangeburg, and Charleston, SC.
For Further Details:
Monica @ 843.849.7841
Anuradha @ 803.347.3851
classicaldance.india@gmail.com
Sirigannada
Sirigannada, the Kannada Association of South Carolina, a nonprofit organization was created on July 18, 2004 by the
interested Kannada speaking people of South Carolina. It is a
voluntary organization primarily run by memberships and
donations from Kannadigas of the State of South Carolina.
For Further Details:
www.sirigannada.org
Telugu Association of Greater Greenville, SC
Telugu Association of Greater Greenville, SC, serves the Telugu
community of the Greenville/Spartanburg area of South
Carolina. The group sponsors several events throughout the
year.
For Further Details:
www.taggsc.org
July 2012

Are you paying too much tax?
Having a tax strategy is the difference between Warren Buffett and Warren Buffett's secretary.
• Tax planning is available to everyone, not just to people like Warren Buffett.
• Tax planning is the key to successfully & legally reducing tax liability.
• The power of tax planning is during the year, NOT scrambling for deductions at the end of the year.
• Businesses and individuals pay the lowest amount of taxes allowable by law because we continually
look for ways to minimize your taxes throughout the year, not just at the end of the year.
• Our plans are mapped to IRS code, so there are never any "grey" areas to worry about.
• No Hourly Rates - there is only ONE fee and we guarantee 100% return on your investment or
it's FREE.

We are proud to be known as the friendliest and most reliable
taxi transportation service in the area and we maintain that reputation
by consistently providing courteous and professional service to all of our clients.
CABS | VANS | LUXURy CARS
SHUTTLES | LIMO SERVICE

Board-Certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism;
Board-Certified in Internal Medicine; Endocrine Certification
in Neck Ultrasound.
Dr. Narasimhan is committed to offering high-quality,
compassionate care to each of his patients.

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase
Clues Across:
1. The oﬃcial state bird of Maine.
9. “ _ - BZ”, Saathee’s feature to test your own IQ.
11. Flee; to go away rapidly.
12. Idle; Sluggish.
14. The vertical distance to point P on a plane parallel
to Y-axis, measured from X-axis, in Cartesian system.
16. To put in a certain physical position.
17. A stalk of bananas; the trunk of a tree.
18. To attack from all sides.
20. Any of the 12 legendary peers of Charlemagne’s court.
23. An early English public assembly or court; Moot.
24. A wind whose speed is 64 to 72 miles per hour; Hail.
27. A vase used to hold the ashes of a cremated body.
28. A silver white, soft metallic element. (Symbol: Sn)
30. One of the great lakes between lakes Huron & Ontario.
31. Produced artiﬁcially; Constructed; shaped.
33. Freakish notion; Whim.
35. Heavy columns used to support weight, e.g. of an arch.
37. Not speaking; Voluntarily silent.38. A road-side motel or a
hotel
39. Producing eﬀects.
42. A crisp shell of pastry for holding a scoop of ice cream.
44. A lute-like instrument of India, with a long, fretted
neck, a resonating gourd, 3 to 7 playing strings and
number of strings that vibrate sympathetically.
46. Timeless; That remains fresh, vital, interesting etc.
47. Nickel. (*) (A chemical element.)

Saathee.com

Clues Down:
1. To go from one side to another of.
2. To cause injury, damage, or pain
3. July 4th, is the ___ Day of USA.
4. Related, as by blood.
5. Moving upward: said of air currents or winds.
6. Old-fashioned.
7. The successful establishment of a plant in a new locality.
8. Eastern Time. (*)
9. The ﬁrst woman, Adam’s wife. (Bible)
10. The sixth letter of the Greek alphabet. (ζ)
13. Indian Standard Time. (*)
15. The leader of prayer in a Muslim mosque. (Arabic)
19. Amuse; to give hospitality to guests.
21. A parcel of land in a cemetery.
22. Of, contained in or derived from urine.
23. A tiny, solid particle, as of salt or sand.
25. To adjust or adapt to a particular situation.
26. Too submissive; easily imposed on.
27. A person chosen to render a decision in a dispute; an
oﬃcial who administers the rules in team sports.
29. A fame, reputation or character.
32. Emergency Room. (*)
34. A woman’s handbag.
36. A poetry; Verse; a simple lyric that can be given a voice.
40. According to: used especially in business.
41. A yellowish brown color.
43. Oregon. (*)
45. Rhode Island. (*)
(Puzzle solutions are on page 124. NO peeking!)

Hee Hee
At a party, Mafatlal: “Do you drink alcohol?”
Booddhoo: “Nope.”
Mafatlal: “Hold my beer while I tie my shoes.”
••••••••••••••
Young man: “Why can’t I marry yet?”Astrologer studied his
horoscope and said: “Because you are destined to be happy
throughout your life.”
••••••••••••••
The store owner saw a new customer entering the store. To
impress the customer, he picked up the phone and started
talking loudly, as if he is making a deal with a huge amount
of money. After a while, the owner put the phone down and
then asked the customer what he could do for him.
Customer: “I have come from a telephone company to repair
your phone, which was out of order.”
••••••••••••••
Reporter: “When did you act really the best in your life?”
Actor: “When income tax oﬃcers raided my house.”
••••••••••••••

the core of the Bank’s agenda, and thus make it outward facing,
not inward facing.
He asked the employees to think of people, not numbers first,
although it was essential they lend prudently, and keep the work
of the Bank profitable. In Wolfensohn’s words, “We all work at
the Bank because we care about the world. We care about
poverty, the environment, social justice and the other issues that
make up the dreams of this institution. These should be our
guiding lights.
Wolfensohn knew that his new agenda would not be well
received. He knew what was expected of him. He should be a
figurehead, an emissary to the many officials and heads of state
that he would meet, while the Bank went about its business.
But Wolfensohn was very conscious of what he was doing. A
man of surprising imagination and drive, an ex-Olympic fencer
and a prominent banker in London and New York, in the years
to come he would motivate, scheme, charm and bully the
constituencies at his command to broaden the distribution of the
world’s wealth.
Here I quote Sri Aurobindo: “The existence of poverty is the
proof of an unjust and ill-organized society, and our public
charities are but the first tardy awakening in the conscience of a
robber.”
During his tenure, Wolfensohn visited 120 nations, since travel
was part of his job. In Mali, he met with Amadou Toumani Toure,
affectionately known as ATT, the general who had led the
overthrow of a long-standing dictator and had subsequently kept
his word and stepped down to permit a democratic transition.
When Wolfensohn told ATT that he was struck by the poverty
in Mali, the latter replied, “We are not poor; there are no
homeless people here. Our culture, our traditions, our history,
and our solidarity are our wealth. And we know what we want.”
This was a recurring theme in Wolfensohn’s experience—-we
know what we want. The finance minister of Mali,Soussaila
Cisse, had prepared a long wish list for Wolfensohn. The latter
was startled to hear that debt was one of the crushing problems
his country faced. At $3 billion, Mali’s debt was about the same
size as its GDP.
Roughly one third of that was owed to the World Bank, and
the debt service payments continued to limit not only the
country’s ability to invest in its future but also the freedom of its
government to set its priorities, especially on education.
In the simple and profound words of a man in a flowing white
robe, “Money comes into my left-hand pocket, and the same
amount goes out of my right hand pocket, leaving me next to
nothing.” Apart from debt forgiveness, Wolfensohn worked on
the pressing problem of corruption, but his efforts in this area
were markedly less successful. In a diary entry, Wolfensohn had
written about corruption:- Continue to fight against the scourge
in all countries in all our initiatives and activities.
Three more notes from his diary are worth quoting:On poverty alleviation: Ensure that it remains the central
mission of the institution, ie the World Bank, together with the
over-riding goal of human development.
On outreach: Continue to work with the official institutions,
global, regional, and local, and with NGOs and civil society in
its broadest extent.
On women’s inclusion: Work universally for gender equity
and social justice and the utilization of the skills that women
have.
Sadly, with President Bush assuming office, Wolfensohn’s
second term, after 10 years, was not extended, and the work that
he so brilliantly started remains unfinished.
118

July 2012

Realtor®, Broker

BUyING A HOME
IN CHARLOTTE?

Kokila.Kumar@allentate.com

yOUR TIMING COULDN'T
BE BETTER!
In Charlotte, there is always a supply
of good homes available - with many
quality choices and deals to be had!

We will match any
competitors advertised prices!

I'm looking at the best prices I've
seen in 5 years AND interest rates
are still at all time lows. There are
some tax credits available too; for
first home buyers and for “move-up"
buyers as well.

Within 10 miles of our store.

6233 Old Sugar Creek Rd

Time to get started finding you a
terrific home in a great community?
Call me at 704-264-7280 or visit my
website: www.kokilakumar.com for
any property search in any area
When I list your home, my one and
only goal is to sell it. Our marketing
plan is designed to generate quality
showings and, wherever possible,
remove the barriers that might keep
a buyer from buying. My listings will
be seen on more than 1000 websites
through our company marketing plan.

MEMBER:
Charlotte Regional
REALTORS® Association,
North Carolina Association
of REALTORS® and the
National Association of
REALTORS®

New Breakthrough Technology in LASER HAIR REMOVAL & we have it!...
HIGH SPEED Light Sheer DUET
> Virtually PAIN-FREE!
> Faster treatments for men and women – Full legs or back in 15-20 minutes
> Effective for all skin types and no messy gels needed
> Recognized “Gold Standard” and FDA approved
> Underarm or upper lip less than $90 per treatment
CaLL FOr Free
CONSULTaTION
SPeCIaLS
FOr New CLIeNTS

Saathee.com

By Appointment
Only

119

July 2012

religious belief. You can count on your friends for
support. Business-related travel may bring good return
for you. Watch your health carefully during second half
of the month.
LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 23)
Focus on your work to avoid any mistakes this month.
Do not sign any legal documents or borrow money this
month. You can count on your partner for financial
help. Move slowly and carefully as a positive change is
on the way for you. Check your diet, and stay away
from addictive products. Your family members may not
come forward to support you. Time is going to improve
by end of the month. Avoid making financial decisions.

General Predictions for July 2012
ARIES (Mar 20- Apr 20)
You may have to waste lots of energy in defeating your
enemies; watch for them within your own force. Your
friends may try to help you, but it won’t be enough.
Expect a dispute on the family front due to clashes
between old traditions with modern philosophy; you
will feel restless. Avoid any legal dispute, watch your
health and drive very carefully. Second half of the
month should bring some relief for you.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 22)
Your smart moves may lead you towards victory over
your enemies. Luck may favor you this month but
quick and aggressive actions are required. Focus on
work and money during this month and avoid
spending time for other matters. Avoid travel for leisure
or vacation during this month. Compromise to finalize
a deal and move fast to enjoy more benefit. Your spouse
and family may prove to be good help this month.

TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 21)
Time may show you slow improvements during this
month. Try to reconcile troublemaking issues and plan
to move forward. You may face some disputes during
the process of changes. Try to avoid any
misunderstanding with your spouse by being nice. Your
siblings and friends may try to help you during this
process of change, while destiny may lead you towards
spiritual activities in the near future.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Major career-related changes may come your way this
month. You may make mistakes and create problems at
workplace. It could be difficult for you to focus on
work or perform sincerely. Minor dispute with spouse
is possible during second half of the month. You may
have arguments with your partner also while making
business-related decisions. Be careful about your
health.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 21)
Your health may deteriorate during this month. Time
is not good for heart patient. It is advisable to take
immediate medical help. Second half of the month can
be more critical. You may see major ups and downs in
the field of finance. Don’t compromise on the financial
front, but your intelligence and quick moves may keep
you in the positive column. It is very important for you
that your family will provide support this month.

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 20)
You may start a new venture this month, which may
change your personality and also lifestyle. Your
enemies may try to harm you, but destiny is on your
side and if you don’t give up, you will be the winner.
You may have to work sincerely and also wait for initial
return as it may not come your way this month. Just
don’t compromise with family traditions. You may feel
that life is a challenge, take the challenge.

CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22)
You may have to take more responsibilities this month.
Act maturely and control your speech to enjoy success.
Egoist comment may lead you towards major problems
during second half of the month. Try to follow
traditions to avoid disputes. Your friends may not keep
their promise, so don’t count on them. Check your diet
this month. Follow your father to win and to enjoy
success during last week of the month.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 19)
You may have to face legal problems this month. Try to
move slow and delay the issue. The beginning of the
month may look tough, but the financial situation is
going to improve slowly. Time is good for students.
They may enjoy positive changes. You may also
consider investing in real estate this month. Skinrelated health problems may bother you; stay careful
of sun burns. Don’t start a new business this month.

LEO (Jul 22 - Aug 23)
This is going to be a very hectic and busy period for you.
Try to accomplish most of your goals during first half
of the month. You may have to face major upsets later
on. Try to control your expenses during second half of
the month. Dispute amongst family members may also
disturb your peace of mind. Avoid making comments
in public. Focus on your career without counting on
immediate return.

PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 20)
Misunderstanding may force you to compromise
numerous times this month. Try to be calm and behave
like a mature person. The circumstances may keep
altering, but you won’t be able to reach anywhere.
Avoid making any financial decisions. Your spouse
may bring bad news regarding financial loss or
expenses. Try to be protective and avoid taking any
risks. You may see some relief during last week of the
month.
By Jalendu Vaidya
Contact: 908-638-6388 / hindusvision.com

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 23)
You may waste your energy in useless pursuits due to
changes in your line of action. This may lead you
towards major instability. Unexpected financial gain is
possible, but it may make you compromise with your
Saathee.com

Indian Restaurant For Sale:
Well
established and profitable in North
Charlotte prime location. Serious buyers
only. Contact: indian.food270@gmail.com
Citgo Gas Station For Sale: In Charlotte.
Great location. For Details call Mr. Song at
704-806-0425.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
Nanny Needed: Live IN or Live OUT
Nanny starting Aug 17th 2012 in Charlotte
North Carolina. Please call 704-674-5619 for
more details.
Waiter or waitress needed for restaurant in
South Charlotte. Part or full time. Ideal for
college student, housewife, young person...
Must speak English and be a hard worker.
704-724-5555.
Help Wanted: Waiters & curry chef for
restaurant in Columbia, SC. Please call 803730-4664
Nanny Needed: (Zip 28262) looking for
EXPERIENCED Indian nanny to care for 2
Month Old baby at home (Monday-Friday
9:00 to 5:00). Should also be able to help in
light household chores. Call 479-616-4591
Franchised motel seeking EXPERIENCED
individual for night audit. Must be honest,
reliable,
and
fluent
in
english.
Accommodations provided.Call 704-299-3364
Full time babysitter needed in Cary, NC.
for 18 month old. 40 to 50 hours at our
home. Must have transportation. Good pay.
Please call 347-489-9416.
Indian Restaurant in New Bern NC:
Looking for Experienced Tandoori and
Curry Chefs. Salary is negotiable.
Accommodation will be provided. Please
email jobs@bayleafnc.com or call 919-321-8525.

Threading job in Winston Salem. Hair
Threading female position open for
IMMEDIATE HIRE. Full-time or Part-Time,
for long term. Call 980-622-4386.

122

Help Wanted: Need single person for front
desk. Computer skills, legal status, and
fluent English only need to apply. Can
provide accommodations for single. Email
resume to bwhospitality78@gmail.com
Help Wanted: Full or part-time. Good pay
for threading practitioners with experience
& good English skills. Charlotte, Raleigh,
& Richmond areas. . Please call 980-322-1110
Hiring Immediately:
Energetic Sales
Person. Opportunity for advancement. For
part/full time position in men’s clothing
store. Must speak fluent English and
people friendly. Stores located in Camden,
Columbia, & Orangeburg, SC. Good
Pay+Commissions. Contact 803-427-1681.
Help Wanted: Experienced chef needed
for Indian restaurant in North Carolina.
Call 336-497-3229.
Office management position in High
Point, NC (full time):
Fast paced
manufacturing company serving customers
nationwide. Fluent in English with good
communication skills, familiar with
MS/Office, some travel. Salary is based
upon
experience.
Contact:
raj@amerifabintl.com
Marketing and Sales Position: Full time
with benefits. Fast paced manufacturing
company serving hospitality customers
nationwide. Must have marketing & sales
experience or college degree in equivalent
field and good communication skills. Travel
is required. Contact: raj@amerifabintl.com
Gas Station help wanted: Looking for a
couple or single. Full-time for c-store/gas
station in Chapel hill. Contact: 561-427-9450
or e-mail mmpatel333@yahoo.com
Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in Raleigh,
NC need couple for Housekeeping. Must
have Legal status. Accommodation will be
provided. Please Call: 919-208-3514
Help Wanted: Franchise Motel in Raleigh,
NC needs couple for front desk. Must have
Legal status. Must Speak English,
Accommodation will be provided. Please
Call: 919-208-3513
Hiring Immediately: Energetic male or
female needed for retail clothing stores in
South Carolina. Must speak fluent English.
CONTACT 706-877-0314 or e-mail
resume@PAMSUM70@gmail.com
Nanny Wanted: Seeking an experienced
daytime Nanny to take care of a 5 monthold boy. Duties include cooking and light
housework. Call for details at 919-324-2797
Motel help wanted for front desk 3rd shift
part-time (fri-sat) in Concord, English a
must call 704-236-4679 between 9 - 3 pm
Help Wanted: A Papa John's in North
Carolina needs a Manager, employees &
Drivers please call 336-887-0440
July 2012

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONT.

Help Wanted: Need couple or single
person for full or part time opportunity in
Gaffney, SC for Gas Station. Please call
704-726-7544.
Nanny Needed: for a 7-month old boy,
starting August 2012 in Cary, NC. Should
have previous experience. If you can cook
and help with household chores, that'll be
even better. Please call 919-345-1808.
Nanny Needed: Looking for a nanny (fulltime/part-time)
in
Durham
(near
Southpoint Mall), NC for a 3 year and a 2
year old. Cooking and light housework
expected. Call 919-572-2492
Help Wanted: Part time Front Desk and
Housekeeping positions for franchised
hotel in Knoxville, TN. Fluent in English.
Must be authorized to work in US.
Accommodations provided. Please Call:
423-494-7686.
Help Wanted:
We are looking for
Qualified Individual with Customer
Service Skills for Sales, We are a Corporate
owned, Mall based business adding staff,
temp to permanent with Flex Sch.
Qualified Individuals should show
RESPONSIBILITY,
LOYALTY,
DISCIPLINE, HONESTY AND CAN
DELIVER SALES NUMBERS. Charlotte
Area. Please call 704-231-5038 or email
pvdadlani@gmail.com

MATRIMONIAL:
Seeking A Hindu Indian Female: For a
divorced male age 37 for marriage,
working in NC on h1b. For info call: 704957-9005

Eyebrow Threading and Waxing, Facial,
Mani/pedicure and Mehandi for any
occasion. Charlotte area. Call Nirali 704350-5102
Computer Consulting: Assistance with
software installation, set-up, formatting,
back-up, troubleshooting and more. Very
reasonable rates. 704-619-2358
Nanny Available: Experienced Nanny
available in University Area of Charlotte
NC. Experience from 1 month to 6 years
old. Willing to provide daycare in own
apartment. Fluent in Hindi/Gujarati.
Beginner in English. Call 704-886-8177
Neeta’s Beauty Parlor: Charlotte area open
7 days a week. Full service. Please call for
appointment. 704-968-0270

Saathee Classifieds:
Business ads are $25 & personal ads
are $15 up to 25 words. Ask about
upgrades to color and box. Submit
classifieds on-line at saathee.com
Deadline is the 20th. We accept
credit cards and checks. Ads are
posted on saathee.com at no extra
charge with paid print listing. Feel
free to call us with any questions.
704.527.7570 Fax: 704.527.7590
Saatheemag@hotmail.com